you eventually take out cover.
Medicare Levy Surcharge
You may have to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) if you earn over a certain amount and don’t have private hospital cover.
For singles earning over $105,000 a year, or couples and families earning over $210,000, the MLS may be up to 1.5% of your earnings.
To avoid the MLS, you need hospital cover, not just extras or ambulance.
Lifetime Health Cover loading
If you don’t have hospital cover by the time you turn 31, an extra charge may be added to your future health insurance premiums.
The Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading starts at 2% when you’re 31 and increases by 2% for every year you don’t have cover.
You need hospital cover to avoid LHC loading, not just cover for extras or ambulance.
If you earn less than a certain amount or you’re under 30, you may be eligible for these government health insurance incentives.
Private health insurance rebate
If your income is less than $164,000 as a single or $328,000 as a couple or family, you may be entitled to a government rebate on your health insurance.
You can choose to get the rebate as a reduction on your hospital, extras, or ambulance cover premiums, or have it calculated at tax time.
Age-based discount
If you’re aged 18 to 29, you may be eligible for a discount on your private hospital cover.
The discount is 2% for each year you’re under 30, up to a maximum of 10%. Once you join, you can keep this discount until you turn 41.
The discount applies to hospital cover, not extras or ambulance.
*Minimum direct debit frequency is fortnightly. Price is for a single in NSW under the age of 65. No Lifetime Health Cover loading or age-based discount applied. Includes base tier Australian Government Rebate. Hospital cover price is based on an excess of $750.
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Bupa takes care of this for you by sending the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) your private health insurance details so that your tax return is prefilled with these details. You can access your health insurance tax statement through myBupa.
Yes. If you’re an Australian citizen or permanent resident and earn above the income thresholds, hospital cover can help you avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge. Depending on how much you earn, the surcharge can be as much as 1.5% of your income come tax time.
Calculate your Medicare Levy Surcharge or visit the ATO website.
† If claimable from another source, a benefit won’t be paid by Bupa. Benefits for ambulance transportation is only payable where the provider describes the transportation as an ‘Emergency’. For more, see the Important Information Guide. There is a 1 day waiting period for emergency ambulance and on-the-spot treatment.