nib is one of Australia's largest health insurers, protecting more than 1 million Aussies.
nib has been around since 1952 and has built itself into the 4th largest health insurer in Australia. Unlike some other insurers, nib hasn't branched out into many other areas of insurance and instead sticks to only health and life insurance.
That allows nib to focus on what it does best and to improve its core offering with perks like it accidental injury benefit, wide network of member hospitals and its MediGap specialist network.
Top 3 features
- Good for people who want a little bit more cover than what is usually at the standard Basic, Bronze and Silver hospital tiers.
- Good for people who like perks, like a wide network of member hospitals.
- Beware if you want a very basic extras policy - the lowest level from nib starts with more coverage than some other providers.
Sign up deals for April 2019 with nib
nib Health Insurance Deal
Skip the waits on 2 & 6 month extras, plus up to $400 off
Up to $400 off for couples and families. Or, $200 off for singles when joining hospital & extras.
Last verified
Deal ends
Speak to a health insurance advisor
What you'll get:
- 100% free expert advice
- Pay the same as going direct
- Instant advice if you call 1300 594 882
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.
What health insurance options are available?
All of NIBs policies fit within the Austrlian 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.
Basic Essentials Hospital Plus
nib's Basic Essentials Hospital goes beyond the government's minimum requirement for a Basic policy by offering full cover for 7 other clinical categories including:
- Tonsils, adenoids and grommets
- Bone, Joint and muscle
- Gynaecology
- Pain Management
It goes above and beyond that by offering , hernia and appendix, gastrointestinal endoscopy, gynaecology, miscarraige and termination of pregnancy and dental surgery.
You can choose an excess of $250, $500 or $750.
Bronze Starter Hospital Plus
The Bronze Starter policy covers the 16 clinical categories mandated by the government for Bronze policies including:
- Brain and nervous system
- Bone, joint and muscle
- Gynaecology
- Diabetes management (excluding insulin pumps)
It goes above and beyond that by offering full cover for 7 additional clinical categories and limited cover for one more. These include:
- Lung and chest
- Blood
- Insulin pumps
- Podiatric surgery (limited to accommodation and prosthetic devices)
You can choose an excess of $500 or $750.
Bronze Standard Hospital Plus
The Bronze Standard Hospital Plus policy covers everything covered by the Bronze Starter Hospital Plus policy plus two additional clinical categories:
- Heart and vascular system.
- Implantation of hearing devices.
It also offers full benefits for rehabilitation and palliative care.
You can choose an excess of $500 or $750.
Silver Advantage Hospital Plus
The Silver Advantage Hospital Plus covers everything the Bronze policies cover plus additional clinical categories required by the government including:
- Back, neck and spine
- Plastic and reconstructive surgery (medically necessary)
- Lung and chest
It goes beyond the requirements by covering several additional clinical categories not required by the government including:
- Kidney dialysis
- Sleep studies
Gold Top Hospital
The Gold Top Hospital policy offers full covers for all 38 clinical categories as mandated by the Australian government for all Gold policies. Some additional cover not found on the Silver Advantage Hospital Plus policy include:
- Pregnancy and birth
- Assisted reproductive services (like IVF)
- Weight loss surgery
| Benefit | Basic Essential Hospital Plus | Bronze Starter Hospital Plus | Bronze Standard Hospital Plus | Silver Advantage Hospital Plus | Gold Top Hospital |
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| Emergency Ambulance Cover |
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| Accidental injury benefit |
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| Dental surgery |
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| Gastrointestinal endoscopy |
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| Gynaecology |
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| Hernia and appendix |
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| Joint reconstructions |
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| Miscarriage and termination of pregnancy |
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| Tonsils, adenoids and grommets |
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| Blood |
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| Bone, joint and muscle |
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| Brain and nervous system |
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| Breast surgery (medically necessary) |
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| Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy for cancer |
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| Common treatments list |
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| Diabetes management (excluding insulin pumps) |
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| Digestive system |
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| Ear, nose and throat |
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| Eye (not cataracts) |
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| Insulin pumps |
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| Kidney and bladder |
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| Lung and chest |
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| Male reproductive system |
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| Pain management |
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| Pain management with device |
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| Plastic and reconstructive surgery (medically necessary) |
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| Skin |
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| Sleep studies |
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| Support treatments list |
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| Heart and vascular system |
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| Implantation of hearing devices |
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| Palliative care |
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| Rehabilitation |
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| Back, neck and spine |
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| Cataracts |
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| Dialysis for chronic kidney failure |
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| Joint replacements |
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| Assisted reproductive services |
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| Hospital psychiatric services |
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| Pregnancy and birth |
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| Weight loss surgery |
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| Cosmetic surgery |
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| Podiatric surgery (provided by a registered podiatric surgeon) |
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| Services not covered by Medicare |
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nib hasn't brought their extras policies in line with the new tier system (they have until April 2020 to do so). Here is what they currently offer:
nib also offers four levels of Extras cover; Core Extras, Core Extras Plus, Core & Wellbeing and Top Extras. Each offers a range of treatments from optical to podiatry. nib also have great dental coverage with all four options including unlimited preventative dental:
| Benefit | Core Extras | Core Extras Boost | Core and Wellbeing Extras | Top Extras |
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| Ambulance |
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| Unlimited preventative dental |
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| General dental |
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| Major dental |
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| Optical |
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| Physiotherapy |
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| Natural Therapies |
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| Healthier Lifestyle |
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| Chiropractic / Osteopathy |
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| Dietary advice |
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| Remedial massage |
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| Preventative tests |
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| Psychology |
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| Antenatal & postnatal services |
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| Exercise physiology |
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| Eye therapy (also known as orthoptics) |
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| Hearing aids / Speech processors |
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| Home nursing services |
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| Occupational therapy |
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| Orthodontia |
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| Pharmaceutical prescriptions |
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| Podiatry / Orthotics |
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| Speech pathology (speech therapy) |
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| Top health aids |
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| Wellbeing health aids |
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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 bother cover GP visits and prescriptions. The OVHC Budget policy does not.
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.
Hello Lesley,
Thank you for your comment.
If you’d like 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 on this page. Please compare them as most of them have ambulance and hospital covers.
Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chat box on the lower right corner of our page.
Regards,
Jhezelyn
Hi, looking for a health insurance for my mother
on a retirement visa subclass 410.
Need full hospital cover ….age 86 female.
Thanks
rob
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
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.
Hi Manfred,
Thanks for your inquiry
You may Compare Health Insurance Policies on this page. You can personalize your search by using the search application on the page.
This page about Health Insurance and Going to Hospital might also help you in narrowing your search.
Hope this information helps
Cheers,
Arnold
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?
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
I am travelling to Bangkok for Breast Augmentation Surgery, do you have a policy that would cover that?
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?
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
Hi Adam,
Thank you for your question.
You have contacted finder.com.au, a comparison and information service and not actually 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
What is fort nightly premium for me I am 78 and have never had private health cover?
I’m after basic hospital n dentures thanks.
Hi Beverley,
Thank you for your question.
Unfortunately, finder.com.au does not provide a fortnightly quote for health insurance. Through our health insurance quote engine, you can get an estimate of monthly premium for NIB Health Fund.
Cheers,
Zubair
I have a couples plus policy can you please tell me what hospital cover that is as this site has basic, standard, advantage and top. The hospital cover described on your info sheet is very general and contains no details. Also why am i paying for labour ward when it is not relevant to my situation. Thank you.
Hi Sue,
Thanks for getting in touch. finder.com.au is a comparison service and not nib. To discuss your policy, you will need to get in contact with nib directly to discuss your policy details. You can do this by calling 13 16 42 or heading to the nib contact us page.
All the best,
Richard