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nib Health Insurance Review

Accidental injury and ambulance cover across all its tiers are some of the reasons to go with nib health insurance.

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Gary Hunter
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nib is the fourth-largest health insurer by market share in Australia, has been around since 1952 and currently offers 5 hospital and 4 extras policies.

Our Verdict

  1. nib's accidental injury benefit gives you access to Gold Hospital cover for 90 days after the accident — not many others offer this.
  2. nib is one of the few providers to cover emergency ambulance transportation fees across all its health covers, excluding Queensland and Tasmania, where it's already free.
  3. nib's most basic extras policy isn't the cheapest, mainly because it covers more than other basic policies, like major dental.

Review by our insurance writer Gary Hunter

Compare health insurance options from nib and 30+ other funds

Who is nib?

nib is a private Australia-based insurer providing health insurance to more than 1 million Australians. As of 2018, it was the 4th largest health insurer in Australia by market share.

nib's network of 200 member hospitals (including day hospitals) is among the largest in Australia. By visiting one of these hospitals, members can save money on out-of-pocket expenses usually associated with private care.

You can save even more with nibs MediGap specialists program. If you're treated by one of nib's networked specialists who have agreed to bill nib directly, meaning you won't pay a thing for their in-hospital services.

Nib also offers an accidental injury benefit that temporarily increases your cover to nib's highest level of cover for the next 90 days following an accident, giving you full cover if you're readmitted during that time.

nib hospital and extras cover

nib offers two types of coverage - hospital and extras. This is fairly standard across the Australian health insurance industry. nib also offers ambulance cover with most of its policies.

All nib policies fit within the Australian government's tier structure with one at each tier and two at bronze. All of nib's policies except Gold are "plus" policies, meaning they offer more than the minimum requirements set out by the government for each tier. Gold is as high as you can get, so there's no need for a "plus" version of that. All policies offer the minimum restricted cover for rehabilitation, psychology and palliative care as mandated by the Australian government's 2019 health insurance reforms.

To learn more, click the drop down links below.

Young people discount

nib offers an age based discount to customers between the ages of 18-29. The amount of discount you receive depends on what age you were on the Discount Assessment Date, which is 1 April 2019 or the date you first took out a policy with nib after 1 April 2019.

You'll keep your discount until age 40 at which point it decreases by 2% per year.

Here's what your discount will be based on the age you were on your Discount Assessment date:

  • 18-25: 10% discount
  • 26: 8% discount
  • 27: 6% discount
  • 28: 4% discount
  • 29: 2% discount

How to make a claim

There are several options to choose from when you need to make an extras claim with nib:

  • Swipe your nib card. All you have to do is swipe your nib card when you visit your service provider to claim on the spot.
  • Claim online. You can use nib Online Claiming 24/7 and claim for extras services by uploading a photo of your receipt. Benefits will be paid into your account within five working days.
  • Claim via the nib app. There are iPhone, iPad and Android apps available so you can claim on the go.
  • Visit an nib retail centre. You can visit your nearest nib retail centre to lodge a claim in person.
  • Claim by mail. Download and complete an nib claim form, then mail it and your original receipts to nib health funds, Locked Bag 2010, Newcastle NSW 2300.

Overseas visitors or Students

nib offers separate health insurance options for overseas students and working visitors.

The overseas student health cover (OSHC) consists of only one product called nib OSHC. There are two choices of overseas visitor health cover (OVHC) called Budget and Basic.

All three of these offer the following:

  • They meet the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) visa requirements.
  • They have no excess.
  • They cover emergency ambulance rides.
  • They cover 100% of the Medicare benefits schedule fee for every covered treatment.

The OSHC policy and the OVHC Basic policy both cover GP visits and prescriptions. The OVHC Budget policy does not.

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16 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    LesleyNovember 15, 2018

    Hi, I would like to get a quote for visitor Visa 600, 6 months stay for 70 year old from South Africa, needing ambulance, hospital cover.

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JhezNovember 16, 2018Staff

      Hello Lesley,

      Thank you for your comment.

      If you’d like to get a quote from nib health insurance, you may visit their website directly to get a quote.

      Alternatively, we have listed the health insurers for visitors with visa 600. Please compare them as most of them have an ambulance and hospital covers.

      Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chatbox on the lower right corner of our page.

      Regards,
      Jhezelyn

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    RobOctober 31, 2017

    Hi, looking for a health insurance for my mother
    on a retirement visa subclass 410.
    Need full hospital cover ….age 86 female.

    Thanks
    rob

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      HaroldOctober 31, 2017Staff

      Hi Rob,

      Thank you for your inquiry.

      You may want to consider to check the available options here.

      I hope this information has helped.

      Cheers,
      Harold

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    ManfredOctober 3, 2017

    Can you please a comparison quote for our current cover with Bupa -Top Hospital Cover Family $250 excess and Premier Extra – Family. We are couple 71 + 68 and now don’t need Family cover.

    Reply
      Default Gravatar
      ArnoldOctober 3, 2017

      Hi Manfred,

      Thanks for your inquiry.

      You can enter your details through our health insurance search form to compare quotations from different brands.

      You can also visit our list of private hospital cover to see a side by side comparison of cheap hospital cover.

      When you are ready, you may then click on the “Go to site” button and you will be redirected to the insurer’s website where you can proceed with the application or get in touch with their representatives for further inquiries you may have.

      Before applying, please ensure that you read through the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you. You can also contact the provider if you have specific questions.

      Hope this information helps

      Cheers,
      Arnold

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    MargJuly 2, 2017

    I have already had a partial mastectomy for invasive cancer and now need further surgery for a recurrence cancer. Does top Nib hospital and extras cover include cover for therapeutic mammography of my second breast so both breasts are the same size?

    Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      JhezJuly 2, 2017Staff

      Hi Marg,

      Thanks for your comment.

      You have contacted finder.com.au, a comparison and information service. You would be well advised to get in touch with NIB health insurance directly to discuss if the therapeutic mammography is covered by their policy.

      Regards,
      Jhezelyn

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    AdamApril 7, 2017

    I am travelling to Bangkok for Breast Augmentation Surgery, do you have a policy that would cover that?

    Reply
      Default Gravatar
      LynJune 19, 2017

      I have been in NIB for 16 years and have gold cover. I wish to have bariatric surgery and was told it is not covered. Can I move to top hospital cover only? If so would I be covered for this surgery then? How much per month for a couple?

      Reply
      Default Gravatar
      JonathanJune 20, 2017

      Hi Lyn!

      Thanks for the comment.

      You can contact NIB directly to confirm if changing covers will give you more benefits as well as for the premium computation.

      Hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Jonathan

      Reply
      Avatarfinder Customer Care
      ZubairApril 11, 2017Staff

      Hi Adam,

      Thank you for your question.

      You have contacted finder.com.au, a comparison and information service and not actually a nib health fund.

      nib health insurance does not provide cover while overseas. You may find our medical tourism insurance guide helpful.

      All the best,
      Zubair

      Reply
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