What is hospital excess?

A hospital excess is an amount you need to pay upfront before being admitted into the hospital as a private patient.

Selecting an excess on your hospital cover can reduce or increase the price of your health insurance.

Usually, the higher your excess is, the lower the cost of your hospital cover.

How to pay your excess

When you go into the hospital your excess needs to be paid directly

 to the hospital, usually on the day of treatment or when booking.

Once your excess is paid, your treatment is then covered by your hospital insurance (depending on your health insurance cover some out-of-pocket expenses may apply) and Medicare (if you’re an Australian Resident). You should always do an

An excess is payable once per adult, 

Which health insurance excess is best for you?

Selecting your hospital cover excess depends on what works best for you, and it might come down to how much you are prepared or able to pay at the time of a hospitalisation – especially if it's unexpected.

Our range of hospital covers can include an excess of $250, $500, and $750, and as a general rule, the higher the excess you choose the lower the price of your hospital cover will be.

Why select a higher excess?

Selecting a higher excess is beneficial if you’re not planning on any trips to the hospital this year but want to feel safe and secure, knowing that they are covered for those unplanned moments.

High excess policies are lower in price, but you will pay more upfront if you need to be admitted into the hospital as a private patient.

You might consider a higher excess if you;

  • are young and healthy
  • don’t think you’ll go to the hospital this year
  • want a lower-priced policy and can afford the upfront higher excess.

Why select a lower excess?

Selecting a lower excess is beneficial for individuals with pre-existing health concerns.

Lower excess policies are higher in price, but you will pay little if any, upfront costs if you need to be admitted into the hospital as a private patient.

You might consider a lower excess if you;

  • have pre-existing health concerns
  • are planning on going to the hospital this year
  • have a history of multiple hospital visits in the last few years
  • can’t afford the upfront higher excess.

Changing your hospital excess

If you’re unhappy with your current level of hospital excess, you may switch to a higher or lower excess level at any time.

If reducing your hospital excess level, waiting periods may apply.

If increasing your hospital excess level, no additional waiting periods will apply.

To increase or reduce your hospital excess please contact our Member Service Centre at 1300 362 144. One of our friendly staff members will talk you through the changes to your policy including your wait periods.

To learn more about waiting periods tap here.

Find the right hospital cover and excess for you. tap here

This advice is general in nature and does not take into account individual circumstances.

For information specific to your circumstances, please contact our Member Service Centre on 1300 362 144.

*This advice applies specifically to our Silver, Silver Plus, Bronze, and Bronze Plus Hospital Policies. For information on specific policies, please refer to your product summary for details relating to your excess, or call our Member Service Centre on 1300 362 144 to talk to one of our friendly staff members about your Hospital Policy.