When do you pay excess on health insurance?

You'll be required to pay an excess before you're admitted by the hospital, who will then bill your insurer for the remaining costs.

What excess options are available for private health insurance?

There is a range of different excess options for hospital cover, but the most common amounts are $250, $500 and $750.

Do you pay hospital excess for same-day surgery?

Many insurers won't charge a health insurance excess if you attend hospital for day surgery only. It's also common for health funds to waive excesses for accident-related treatment, same-day admissions or if any kids are on your cover.

Do you have to pay excess on extras?

No. An excess is only applicable to hospital cover, as extras benefits are normally paid as a percentage of a service provider's fee or as a set number of visits per year.

Does your hospital cover excess affect your tax?

If your excess is too high, it might be a problem for your taxes, but in reality it hardly ever happens. If you earn above $97,000 a year ($194,000 for couples) you'll be hit with the Medicare Levy Surcharge unless you get eligible hospital cover. To be eligible, that policy has to have an excess of no more than $750 ($1,500 for couples). Truth is, basically every policy available has a maximum excess of $750 per person, so it's probably not a massive issue for you.