Best extras cover Australia

A shortlist of the best extras health insurance policies, selected by health insurance experts.

Who’s this health cover for?

Finding the best extras cover

There is no such thing as the 'best' extras policy, soz. However, there are definitely some extras policies that offer more bang for your buck, which is where you should start your comparison journey. Have a look at the policies we've called out below, and if they're not perfect for you then use the quiz at the top of this page to find something that's more tailored to your needs.

Best extras health insurance policies - July 2025

What's the best extras insurance in Australia?

The extras policies below won the 2025 Finder Awards. They came out on top for value for money – meaning they give you more bang for your buck than the other 400+ policies we analysed from 46 health funds.

Best Core Extras Health Insurance: Bupa Extras Saver

Extras Saver

From

$3.02

/week

Extras only

From

$3.02

/week

Our verdict

A great, no fuss, basic extras policy that covers general dental and emergency ambulance. If you don't think you'll need any extras treatment outside the ol' pearly whites, this is a great option to consider.

  • No gap on two 6-monthly clean and check-ups each year with a Bupa partner dentist, claimable outside your normal yearly benefit limits.
  • Unlimited emergency ambulance cover.
  • 100% back on general fillings with a Bupa partner dentist, up to yearly benefit limits.
  • Only covers dental and ambulance, nothing else.
  • The best deal on dentistry requires you to use a Bupa partner dentist.

Best Medium Extras Health Insurance: ahm value extras

value extras

From

$8.20

/week

Extras only

From

$8.20

/week

Our verdict

A really nice mid-tier extras policy that will cover a range of useful treatments like dental, physio and optical. Optical in particular is a standout, this policy will score you a free pair of glasses each year (up to your benefit limits). Doesn't cover more complex treatments, but if that's not an issue, this is a great value policy to consider.

  • 100% back on optical, up to yearly benefit limits.
  • No gap dental check-ups at partner dentists.
  • Unlimited emergency ambulance.
  • No major dental, though that's not uncommon at this price point.

Best Comprehensive Extras Health Insurance: ahm Family Extras

Family Extras

From

$15.60

/week

Extras only

From

$15.60

/week

Our verdict

A really solid policy from ahm. Along with the lifestyle and super extras, family extras has no 2 or 6 month waiting periods baked into the policy, even without any special sign-up offers. Great value cover for a range of treatments, including major dental and braces. If you're a family with young teenagers, have a look at this one!

  • No 2 or 6 month waiting periods, so you can start claiming right away.
  • 100% back on optical, up to yearly benefit limits.
  • No gap dental check-ups at partner dentists.
  • Cover for complex treatments like major dental, orthodontics, hearing aids and laser eye surgery.
  • Not much really. It might be more cover than some people need, but that's about it.

What makes an extras policy good?

Fundamentally, an extras cover is good if it covers everything you need, covers nothing you don't, and is a reasonable price. Extras policies are many and varied across the health insurance market, so odds are pretty good that you'll find something that suits you well.

While insurance isn't about making money, picking the right extras policy can result in you breaking even each year. This means making enough claims against your extras treatments each year so that the benefits you receive are close to the amount you're paying in premiums. Of course, you're also paying for peace of mind in case a big problem crops up that needs immediate care (think root canal).

So yeah, best bet is to have a look at the policies on this page, but then to use the tool at the top of this page to compare hundreds of other extras policies, because there could be something on offer that is perfect for you.

Tim Bennett's headshot
How to get the most out of your extras health insurance?

"The best way to get the most out of your extras insurance is to use it! I like to think of extras cover a bit like those big coupon books you used to buy in school fundraisers (showing my age much?). If you paid $50 for the coupon book, you needed to get at least $50 worth of savings to make it worthwhile. For extras, that might mean 2 dental check-ups, a new pair of glasses and seeing the physio a few times every year. On mid-tier policies, even that could be getting close to your yearly premiums."

Insurance expert

Frequently asked questions

Angus Kidman's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Angus Kidman as part of our fact-checking process.
Tim Bennett's headshot
Written by

Insurance expert

A seasoned journalist with over 10 years of experience in news, politics and finance reporting, Tim has previously held roles at the ABC, SBS and Fairfax Media. Tim’s expert insights have been quoted in The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, The Courier Mail and more. He regularly appears on TV and radio, and has been interviewed on 7 News, Sunrise, SBS News, ABC Local, 3AW and 5AA. Tim is passionate about simplifying complex insurance topics for Australian consumers. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Politics) from Macquarie University and a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification, which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). If you’re interested in a media interview with Tim, please reach out to our PR team at aupr@finder.com. See full bio

Tim's expertise
Tim has written 161 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Personal finance
  • Financial comparison
  • Health insurance
  • General insurance
  • Life insurance

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