Private health insurance in Tasmania

When comparing private hospital cover costs, it’s essential to understand that there are levels of cover, each with different inclusions and exclusions. All hospital cover policies will fall into one of the following categories: Basic, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Below are the average monthly premiums paid in Tasmania compared to the national average.

These figures are based on monthly premiums for single-only policies that exempt you from the Medicare Levy Surcharge with a $750 excess. It doesn’t include any rebates, discounts or levies. For our table, we’ve included Plus policies in the base tier (e.g. Bronze Plus policies are factored in with the Bronze category).

Unlike hospital cover, extras cover doesn’t have standardised tiers. Therefore, your costs will be more influenced by how many services are included, your annual limits and your choice of health fund.

In Tasmania, the average cost of extras cover in August 2024 is $80.35, which is below the national average of $84.73.¹

If you’re a Tasmanian resident, the state government will usually waive ambulance costs.⁴ There are some cases where you may still receive an invoice for ambulance services, including:

• Motor vehicle accidents (covered by the Motor Accidents Insurance Board instead)
• Workplace accidents (covered by your workplace or WorkCover instead)
• Public liability incidents
• Other incidents, including claims involving asbestos or cases where you’re a victim of a crime.⁴

Though you may receive an invoice for ambulance services, it doesn’t necessarily mean there will be out of pocket costs. Usually, you’ll need to either fill in a form or provide documentation to prove your eligibility. Tasmania has a reciprocal agreement with most states (the exceptions being SA and QLD); whenever you travel interstate, it’s best to check what you’re covered for should you need an ambulance.

Private hospital cover is health insurance that helps you pay for in-hospital treatment in a private hospital. Being a private patient has several benefits, including choosing an available doctor and staying in a private room (subject to availability).

All private health insurance policies fall into one of the following levels:

• Basic
• Bronze
• Silver
• Gold.

Extras cover (also known as ancillary cover or general treatment) is health insurance that covers your out-of-hospital medical care that Medicare doesn’t cover. These services include dental, optometry, physio, chiro and more.