Choose between four different types of extras cover with nib, and get up to 100% back on optical and dental.
4.7 based on 828 reviews
Key takeaways
Get up to 100% back on optical and dental services when visiting nib care centres.
nib provides four extras plans with benefit levels between 60% and 75% for covered services.
Even nib's basic extras plans include cover for major dental work.
With four kinds of extras cover on offer, nib allows you to only pay for what you need. With almost a million subscribers in New Zealand and Australia, nib can help you pay for those everyday things you need to keep you going.
Top 3 features
Good for 100% back on optical and dental check-ups at nib eye care or dental care centres.
Good for people who may require speech processors. nib's top level of extras cover provides benefits for speech processors in addition to hearing aids, which many extras policies omit.
Good for dental cover. Even nib's most basic extras package includes cover for major dental work, which is usually only provided in higher tiers on other policies.
What extras only plans are available?
nib offers four different extras only plans:
Core Extras. Provides a 60% benefit on a basic range of extras.
Core Extras Boost. Provides the same 60% benefit on the same range as Core Extras, but with a higher annual limit.
Core and Wellbeing Extras. Provides a 60% benefit on the same range as Core Extras, with things like natural therapies and chiropractic included.
Top Extras. Provides a 75% benefit on a full range of services. nib's top-level extras plan.
nib extras cover inclusions
Benefit
Core Extras
Core Extras Boost
Core and Wellbeing Extras
Top Extras
Ambulance
No annual limit
No annual limit
No annual limit
No annual limit
Unlimited preventative dental
No annual limit
No annual limit
No annual limit
No annual limit
General dental
$600
$700
$600
$1,000
Major dental
$600
$1,000
$600
$1,300
Optical
$250
$300
$250
$350
Physiotherapy
$350
$450
$350
$600
Natural Therapies
No cover
No cover
$300
$400
Healthier Lifestyle
No cover
No cover
$150
$200
Chiropractic / Osteopathy
No cover
No cover
$300
$500
Dietary advice
No cover
No cover
$300
$600
Remedial massage
No cover
No cover
$150
$200
Preventative tests
No cover
No cover
$100
$200
Psychology
No cover
No cover
$300
$500
Antenatal & postnatal services
No cover
No cover
No cover
$250
Exercise physiology
No cover
No cover
No cover
$300
Eye therapy (also known as orthoptics)
No cover
No cover
No cover
$200
Hearing aids / Speech processors
No cover
No cover
No cover
$1,200
Home nursing services
No cover
No cover
No cover
$200
Occupational therapy
No cover
No cover
No cover
$450
Orthodontia
No cover
No cover
No cover
$800
Pharmaceutical prescriptions
No cover
No cover
No cover
$500
Podiatry / Orthotics
No cover
No cover
No cover
$400
"The primary reason I have health insurance is for the extras cover for my dental, optometry and chiro visits. I've been with a few different health insurers but I keep coming back to NIB as I've found their Extras cover gives me the most value for money. Instead of all of the complex conditions around how much I can claim back per visit from the other health insurers' I've been with, NIB's 60% benefit for all covered services means I know exactly how much I can get back from every visit, up to my annual limits."
Nicole T
Finder crew member
Other benefits of nib Extras Cover
In addition to the benefits outlined above, nib members have access to the following:
100% optical and dental back. If you visit an nib eye care or dental care centre, you can receive up to 100% back in benefits, up to your annual limit.
nib Rewards. Members have access to discounts and offers at 150+ retailers, including savings on things like groceries and gym memberships.
nib First Choice Network. By using an nib First Choice Network provider, you'll be able to lower your out-of-pocket costs and likely receive more affordable healthcare.
How do the costs work?
The way that extras operate with nib is simple. When claiming on a service, you'll receive back 60% of the cost from nib (75% with Top Extras), up to your annual limit. When you hit your annual limit for a particular service, you won't be able to claim any more benefits for that service until the following calendar year.
Keep in mind that certain groups of treatments may have sub-limits included, meaning you can only claim that total between the group of services per year, regardless of their individual limits.
Waiting periods and limitations
The waiting periods imposed upon extras claims are as follows:
1 day: For ambulance services.
2 months: For all services, except those in one of the other categories.
6 months: For optical appliances and repairs and healthier lifestyle benefits.
12 months: For specialty dental, removal of wisdom teeth, some dental surgeries by non-specialist doctors, dentures, orthodontics, and artificial aids (excluding orthotics).
36 months: For hearing aids.
How to make a claim
Generally, you'll be able to make a claim on the spot at a provider, simply by swiping your membership card. Otherwise, you can make claims online, using the nib App, or, if necessary, mailing in a claim form.
How much does health insurance cost?
We ask hundreds of Australians what they're paying for health insurance every month. Here's what their bill looked like in March 2026.
Extras only: $53
Basic: $90
Bronze: $144
Silver: $184
Gold: $285
Price based on 400+ responses for single hospital or extras insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The nib First Choice Network is a group of healthcare providers including dentists, optometrists, physiotherapists and chiropractors who have an agreement with nib. When you choose a provider from this network you typically pay less out-of-pocket for your treatment. This is because these providers have agreed to offer nib members more affordable rates or specific benefits.
nib Rewards is a program offering discounts and special offers from over 150 retailers. As an nib member you can access savings on everyday expenses like groceries, gym memberships, entertainment and more. You usually access these rewards through the nib App or by logging into your online member account.
For nib extras policies annual limits generally reset on January 1 each calendar year. This means that regardless of when you joined your annual limits for benefits will refresh at the start of every new calendar year allowing you to claim again up to your new limits.
No extras only health insurance does not exempt you from the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS). To avoid the MLS you need to have an appropriate level of hospital cover from a registered health fund. Extras cover provides benefits for ancillary services but it is not considered qualifying private patient hospital cover for MLS purposes.
Yes you can upgrade or downgrade your nib extras cover. If you upgrade to a higher level of cover new waiting periods may apply to the increased benefits or any services not previously covered. If you downgrade no new waiting periods will apply to the services that remain covered under your new plan. It is advisable to contact nib or review your policy details for specific conditions.
The 100% back on optical and dental benefit means that when you visit an nib Eye Care or Dental Care Centre you can receive 100% of the cost of certain services back up to your annual limit. This often applies to preventative dental check-ups some optical items like certain frames or lenses and other specified services when using their network providers. It is important to check your specific policy details and annual limits for exact coverage.
As Finder's insurance group publisher, Alex Holderness aims to make confusing topics easy to understand. She's been published in Money Mag, Yahoo Finance, Hospital Health, and is a contributing author for Google's Startup Grind. She has a keen passion for running and is currently studying for her General Insurance certification.
See full bio
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