Best extras cover Australia

Finding the best extras cover

There is no such thing as the single 'best' extras policy for everoe. 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

• Best core extras health insurance: Extras Saver
• Best medium extras health insurance: value extras
• Best comprehensive extras health insurance: Family Extras

Extras price	Treatments
Best core extras health insurance
Extras Saver Extras cover	From $3.02/week	General dental Major dental Optical Physiotherapy Chiropractic Psychology Remedial massage Hearing aids	View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it 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. Bupa's Extras Saver took out the 2025 Finder Award for Core Extras Health Insurance. This policy offers outstanding value for those essential, frequently used extras services, making it a true standout for managing everyday health costs. Pros & cons Pros 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. Cons 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
value extras Extras cover	From $8.39/week	General dental Major dental Optical Physiotherapy Chiropractic Psychology Remedial massage Hearing aids +3 other treatments covered	Intro offer: Get up to 8 weeks free when you join by 30 Jun 2026. For new joins on eligible extras. T&Cs apply.	Go to SiteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it 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. ahm claimed the 2025 Finder Award for Medium Extras Health Insurance with its value extras policy. This policy achieves a fantastic balance between cost and coverage, offering a strong suite of benefits for those mid-range extras services. Pros & cons Pros 100% back on optical, up to yearly benefit limits No gap dental check-ups at partner dentists Unlimited emergency ambulance Cons No major dental, though that's not uncommon at this price point
Best comprehensive extras health insurance
Family Extras Extras cover	From $16.37/week	General dental Major dental Optical Physiotherapy Chiropractic Psychology Remedial massage Hearing aids +5 other treatments covered	Intro offer: Get up to 8 weeks free when you join by 30 Jun 2026. For new joins on eligible extras. T&Cs apply.	Go to SiteView details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it 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! ahm's Family Extras policy is the 2025 Comprehensive Extras Health Insurance award winner. Providing expansive coverage across a vast array of extras services, it offers truly thorough protection designed with families in mind, earning it the top spot. Pros & cons Pros 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. Cons Not much really. It might be more cover than some people need, but that's about it.

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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.

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."

Tim Bennett

Insurance expert

Understanding the core difference between extras and hospital cover is essential for any policyholder. Hospital cover is designed for inpatient treatment where you are formally admitted for surgery or medical care. In contrast, extras cover (often referred to in the industry as general treatment or ancillary cover) focuses on outpatient services. These are the everyday health treatments Medicare generally does not subsidise, such as visits to the dentist, optometrist or physiotherapist.

The mechanics of how you get your money back can vary significantly between providers. Most policies operate using percentage-based rebates (where you might get 60%, 75% or even 100% of the cost back) or set-benefit payouts (a fixed dollar amount per service). Payout variations also occur based on whether you visit a "preferred provider" who has a commercial agreement with your insurer to lower out-of-pocket costs.

Crucially, you must be aware of annual reset cycles. Most extras policies operate on a "use it or lose it" principle, meaning your annual limits do not roll over to the next year. While the majority of Australian funds reset these limits on 1 January (calendar year), some providers like ahm and Peoplecare reset on 1 July (financial year). Managing your appointments around these dates ensures you maximise your benefits before they expire.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the best extras health insurance policy in Australia?

  Nice try! There is no 'best' extras policy in Australia. Everyone has different needs, and so everyone will have a different extras policy that suits them the best. That being said, the Finder health insurance awards found these 3 to be particular standouts with regard to value for money.

  • Best Core Extras Health Insurance: Bupa Extras Saver
  • Best Medium Extras Health Insurance: ahm value extras
  • Best Comprehensive Extras Health Insurance: ahm Family Extras

• What does extras health insurance cover?

  Extras cover helps pay for medical care that's not covered by Medicare. These treatments are usually done out-of-hospital and include dental, physio, psychology, optical and chiropractic services. You must serve a waiting period before you can claim money back and there are annual cover limits (a cap on how much you can claim per year). Extras policies are a lot more varied than hospital insurance policies, so you're going to see a lot of different stuff you can claim, from hearing aids to sunscreen to laser eye surgery - it pays to look at your policy information!

• Do you have to pay an excess on extras health insurance?

  No, you will not need to pay an excess on extras health insurance cover. Excesses are only applicable to hospital claims.

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

Written by

Tim Bennett

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 154 Finder guides across topics including:

• Personal finance
• Financial comparison
• Health insurance
• General insurance
• Life insurance