Skip to content
Healthslips logo
Greenslips logo
Healthslips logo
Explore Overview
Cover Overview
Hospital Cover (9 articles) Extras Cover (5 articles) Ambulance Cover (5 articles) Excluded Treatments
Insurers Overview
AAMI Health Insurance ACA Health ahm AIA Health Insurance Allianz Care Australia APIA Health Insurance Astute Simplicity Health Australian Unity Bupa Health Insurance CBHS Corporate CBHS Health Defence Health Doctors Health Emergency Services Health Frank GMHBA GU Health HBF HCF HCi Health Partners HIF Hunter Health Insurance (by CDH Benefits Fund) ING Health Insurance Latrobe Health Services Medibank Mildura Health Fund Navy Health nib Nurses and Midwives Health onemedifund Peoplecare Phoenix Health Fund Police Health Priceline Health Insurance Qantas Insurance  Queensland Country Health Fund Real Health Insurance Reserve Bank Health Society (RBHS) rt health see-u By HBF Seniors Health Insurance  St Lukes Health Suncorp Health Insurance  Teachers Health Territory Health Fund  Transport Health TUH UniHealth Union Health  Westfund
Do you have a reference number?
Resume your calculation.
Healthslips logo Greenslips logo
Compare Every Insurer
No Commercial Bias
Cheapest Policy Guaranteed
Free Open Access
Compare Every Insurer
No Commercial Bias
Private Health Insurance
Guide

What is an excess?

Reviewed and updated 9 December 2024

What is a Hospital Cover excess? 

An excess is the lump sum you must pay if you have Hospital Cover and are admitted into hospital as a private patient.

It is your contribution towards a claim you make on your Hospital Cover.

Generally, if you agree to pay a higher excess for your Hospital Cover, you pay less in premiums. If you pay a lower excess, you pay more for your premium.

The idea of paying an excess is to help keep health insurance affordable.

You may be required to pay an excess every time you go to hospital or only the first time. You need to check this with your insurer.

How much is an excess?

In Australia, the most you will pay for your excess is $750 per person per year up to a maximum of $1,500 for a family.

This is how excesses work in practice:

An excess of $750

Mary has an excess of $750 on her Hospital Cover and is admitted as a private patient to hospital for a hip replacement. On admission, Mary must pay the hospital $750. Her health insurer will pay the rest because it is covered under her policy and the hospital has an agreement with her insurer.

An excess of $250

Fred has an excess of $250 on his Hospital Cover and is admitted as a private patient to hospital for a hip replacement. On admission, Fred must pay the hospital $250. His health insurer will pay the rest because it is covered under his policy and the hospital has an agreement with his insurer.

When do I pay an excess?

When you are admitted to a hospital as a private patient and before you receive treatment, you have to pay the excess to the hospital.

Will I have to pay an excess if I take out Extras Cover and Overseas Student Health Cover?

No. You do not typically pay an excess for:

We promise

Read more
Compare Every
Insurer

Compare all Australian health insurers and every policy
No Commercial
Bias

Compare using independent and comprehensive information
Cheapest Policy
Guaranteed

Compare all Private Health Information Statements, cheapest to most expensive
Free Open
Access

Compare without entering your name, email or phone number

Related Content

advertisement
calculate your health insurance