When you think about your private health insurance, Hospital cover might be the first thing that comes to mind. But your Extras cover can be the part you use much more regularly.
A dental check-up. New prescription glasses. Seeing a physio about that knee that’s been bothering you. Depending on your policy, Extras can help towards the cost of these everyday healthcare services and plenty more.
The catch? It’s easy to forget what’s included, how much you have available or even which benefits you’ve used throughout the year.
So, whether you’ve had Extras cover for years or you’re still getting to know your policy, here’s how to understand your benefits and make sure you’re getting the most from your cover.
First Things First: How Does Extras Cover Work?
Your Extras Cover provides benefits towards eligible healthcare services, that generally aren’t covered by Medicare, helping reduce your out-of-pocket costs, subject to your level of cover, benefit limits and policy conditions.
Depending on your level of cover, these can include services such as:
| Dental | Optical | Physiotherapy |
| Chiropractic treatment | Podiatry | Remedial massage |
| Osteopathy | Psychology | Exercise physiology |
All HIF Extras cover options include benefits for general dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy, although the amount you can claim varies depending on your policy. That’s where understanding your Extras limits becomes important.
Know Your Limits
Your Extras limits determine how much you can claim towards eligible services. But not every limit works in exactly the same way. Depending on your policy, you may come across different types of limits. Not all limits apply to every Extras product or service.
| Type of limit | What does it mean? |
|---|
| Annual limit | The maximum benefit available for a service or group of services within a calendar year. |
| Combined limit | One limit shared across several services. |
| Sub-limit | A maximum benefit that applies to a particular service or treatment within a broader limit. |
| Per-person limit | A limit that applies individually to people covered under a membership. |
| Lifetime limit | A maximum benefit that applies across your lifetime rather than renewing each year.For example, your policy might have separate annual limits for dental and optical, while several allied health services could sit within one combined limit. |
The important thing is not to assume. Your benefits depend on your level of cover, so check the limits that apply to your policy before receiving treatment. You can compare the benefits and limits available across HIF’s different policies using the Extras Cover Comparison Table.
What happens to your annual limits at the end of the year?
HIF’s annual Extras limits reset on 1 January each year.
Any unused annual benefits don’t accumulate into the following calendar year. Once the new year begins, your applicable annual limits start again. Lifetime limits work differently and don’t reset annually.
This doesn’t mean you should book treatment simply to use a benefit. But if there’s an eligible healthcare service you’ve already been planning, it’s worth knowing what you have available.
So, What Could You Be Using Your Extras For?
Rather than thinking about your cover as a list of limits, think about the healthcare services you and your family actually use.
Dental
When did you last see your dentist? Regular dental appointments can help maintain your oral health and identify potential issues early. The HIF Extras options include benefits towards eligible dental services, with the benefits available depending on your policy.
If you’re due for an appointment, check your remaining dental benefits before you book and explore HIF’s dental cover to understand what’s included. For more advice on looking after your teeth and gums, you can also explore the HIF Dental Health Hub.
Physiotherapy and Allied Health
Maybe it’s not your teeth you’ve been neglecting. Perhaps it’s the sore shoulder you keep hoping will disappear on its own. Physiotherapists can assess and treat a wide range of movement and physical health concerns, including injuries and musculoskeletal conditions. Depending on your cover, you may also have benefits towards other allied health services such as chiropractic treatment, osteopathy, podiatry, remedial massage or exercise physiology.
Because some allied health services may share a combined limit, check what’s included and what you have remaining before booking treatment.
Optical
If you’ve been putting off replacing your glasses or ordering new contact lenses, your optical benefits are another area worth checking. HIF Extras cover can provide benefits towards eligible prescription glasses, contact lenses and prescription sunglasses, depending on your policy.
If you’ve had your eyes tested and need new prescription eyewear, check your remaining optical benefits and find out more about HIF’s optical cover.
Don’t Forget the Less Obvious Extras
Dental, physio and optical might be the services people think about first, but they aren’t necessarily the only benefits available. Depending on your policy, you could have cover towards other eligible healthcare services and health programs too.
Review your HIF health insurance policy to check which extras services you’re covered for and the benefits available under your level of cover. HIF’s Extras Cover Comparison Table makes it easy to compare included services across different extras cover options, so you can better understand your benefits and make the most of your health insurance.
How Much Do You Have Left?
Knowing what’s included is one thing. Knowing what you’ve actually used is another. Fortunately, you don’t need to keep a running tally of every claim yourself.
HIF members can log in to the Online Member Centre or use the HIF app to review their policy and Extras usage.
When you’re considering an upcoming treatment, check:
- Is the service covered? Make sure the treatment is included under your particular policy.
- What limit applies? Look at the relevant annual, combined or other limit.
- How much have you already used? Previous claims can affect the benefits you have remaining.
- Have you served the waiting period? A waiting period may apply before you can claim certain benefits.
Doing this before your appointment can give you a much clearer idea of what your health insurance may contribute and what you may need to pay yourself.
How to Get the Most Value From Your Extras Cover?
Reviewing your limits can also help you understand whether your Extras cover still suits your healthcare needs. As your lifestyle and needs change over time, it’s worth checking that your cover continues to work for you.
Perhaps you’re now seeing a physio more regularly. Maybe you’ve added children to your policy and dental has become more important. Or you might notice you’re paying for a level of cover that includes services you rarely use.
Look at the services you’ve claimed over the past year and ask yourself:
- Which benefits do I use most?
- Which limits am I regularly reaching?
- Are there services included that I don’t tend to use?
- Have my or my family’s healthcare needs changed?
- Does my current level of Extras still make sense for me?
There isn’t one level of Extras cover that’s right for everyone. What matters is choosing cover that reflects the services that are important to you.
You can compare HIF’s Extras cover options if you’d like to see how the different levels of cover compare.
If you’re considering upgrading, keep in mind that waiting periods may apply to any new services or higher benefits. If you’ve already served waiting periods for equivalent cover, you generally won’t need to serve them again.
Make Your Extras Work for You
Your Extras cover can help with more than you might realise, from routine dental appointments to physiotherapy, optical and other eligible healthcare services.
Taking a few minutes to understand your benefits and reviewing your remaining limits can help you plan your healthcare and avoid missing out on benefits you could be using.
Whether you’re planning an upcoming appointment or reviewing your cover for the year ahead, the HIF Online Member Centre and HIF app are good places to start.
Frequently Asked Questions About Extras Cover
What is Extras cover?
Extras cover is private health insurance that helps towards the cost of eligible healthcare services provided outside hospital. Depending on the policy, this can include dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropractic treatment, podiatry and other allied health services.
HIF offers a range of Extras cover options with different services, benefits and limits.
How does Extras cover work?
When you receive an eligible service included in your policy, your health insurer pays a benefit towards the cost, subject to the conditions and limits of your cover. You pay any remaining amount yourself.
The amount you can claim can depend on the service, provider, your level of cover, applicable limits and whether you’ve completed any required waiting period.
What are annual limits on Extras cover?
An annual limit is the maximum benefit you can claim towards a particular service or group of services during a calendar year.
For example, dental and optical may have their own annual limits, while some allied health treatments may share a combined limit. Check HIF’s Extras Cover Comparison Table for the limits applying to different HIF products.
When do HIF Extras limits reset?
HIF’s annual Extras limits reset on 1 January each year. Unused annual benefits don’t carry over into the following calendar year.
Other limits can operate differently. For example, a lifetime limit doesn’t renew at the beginning of each year.
How can I check how much Extras cover I have left?
HIF members can check their Extras usage and policy information through the HIF Online Member Centre or HIF app. It’s worth checking your cover before treatment to confirm the service is included and understand what benefits you may be able to claim.
Can I get Extras cover without Hospital cover?
Yes. You can take out Extras cover without Hospital cover. Alternatively, you can have Hospital and Extras cover together.
The right option depends on your healthcare needs, circumstances and budget. You can compare HIF’s Hospital and Extras cover options to understand the different types of cover available.
Is Extras cover worth it?
Whether Extras cover is worth it will depend on your individual circumstances, including the healthcare services you use, the benefits available and the cost of your policy.
Reviewing your claims history can be useful. Consider which services you regularly claim for, the benefits you receive and whether your current policy still reflects your healthcare needs.
Does Extras cover include dental?
Dental is available across HIF’s Extras cover options, although the services, benefits and limits depend on your policy.
You can find more information about general dental, major dental and other eligible services on the HIF Dental Cover page.
Does Extras cover include physiotherapy?
HIF Extras policies include benefits towards eligible physiotherapy services. The amount you can claim and any applicable annual or combined limits depend on your level of cover.
Check your policy or the HIF Extras Cover Comparison Table before treatment to see what applies to you.
Does Extras cover include optical?
HIF Extras cover can provide benefits towards eligible optical products such as prescription glasses, contact lenses and prescription sunglasses. Benefits and annual limits depend on the policy you hold.
Find out more about HIF Optical Cover.
How do I claim on Extras cover?
For many Extras services, you may be able to claim electronically at the healthcare provider and pay only the remaining amount. HIF members can also submit eligible claims through HIF’s digital member services. See HIF’s How to Claim information for the available claiming options.
A note about this information
The information in this article is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to replace personalised medical advice. Everyone’s health and circumstances are different, so we recommend speaking with your GP or treating healthcare professional about whether the information is appropriate for you and your individual needs.