Private Health Insurance For Under 30yr Olds

Before you turn 30, private health insurance is more of a benefit than a necessity.

For 30 year olds, however, the cost of obtaining -- and failing to obtain -- private health insurance becomes a more pressing consideration.

Once you turn 31, you may face loading fees when purchasing hospital cover for the first time. On top of that, without hospital cover you may be liable for the Medicare Levy Surcharge.

If you're 30 years old, then there's still time to avoid the increased cost associated with failing to purchase private health cover.

Here is a deeper look at what you can expect regarding added expenses for health insurance over 30.

What types of Insurance can I take out?

There are two broad categories of health insurance:

• Hospital cover allows treatment in a hospital as a private patient

• Extras cover addresses healthcare outside hospitals, including dental and physiotherapy.

What should I consider when taking out Extras Insurance?

Weigh up whether the discounts and rebates you get from your extras cover is worth the cost of your premium.

Important note: Taking out extras cover only means you’ll still have to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) if you earn over $93,000 as a single person, or $186,000 as a household / couple. Only an eligible hospital cover policy will exempt you from paying this levy.

When do loading fees go away?

While Lifetime Health Cover loading fees last a while, they don't stay with you forever.

As long as you remain covered, your loading fees will go away after ten years of continuous hospital cover.

Still, if you wait until you turn 35 to purchase hospital cover, you'll be paying 10% extra on your hospital cover premiums until you turn 45.

This cost adds up over a decade.

Gaps in coverage

The Australian government allows you to have some gaps in coverage during your hospital coverage window.

This can save you some hassle and money if you fall on financial hardship -- or if you previously maintained hospital cover before you turned 31.

You can have a gap in coverage of up to 1,094 days before additional loading fees apply.

After you use all of your days, however, you will have to pay loading fees equivalent to your age.

Keep in mind, though, that these 1,094 days are for the entirety of your healthcare life.

They don't have to be consecutive.

If you have a gap in coverage for 600 days, purchase another policy, then have a second gap of 500 days ten years later, you will still face loading fees.

You can request that your health fund suspend your policy for a short period if you can't afford the premiums.

This time won't count toward your 1,094 days if they grant you the suspension.

Loading fees for migrants

New citizens in Australia also face loading fees, but the government provides a grace period that allows them to sign up for private health cover.

Migrants aged over 30 must purchase hospital cover within 12 months of registering for Medicare to avoid loading fees.

Failing to sign up for hospital cover within this period means you'll be faced with loading fees that correspond to your age.

If you become an Australian resident at 40 and fail to purchase the adequate cover, for example, you'll face a 20% loading fee on your premium.

Medicare Levy Surcharge

The Medicare Levy Surcharge (not to be confused with the Medicare Levy) is one of the ways the government reduces the load on the Medicare system.

Most Australians pay the Medicare Levy: a 2% annual tax to help subsidise the Medicare system.

The Medicare Levy Surcharge is an additional fee that the Australian government applies to people in higher income brackets who choose to not take out an eligible hospital cover.

Instead of a charge added to your private hospital cover premiums, this fee is associated with failing to purchase private hospital cover.

Medicare is a fantastic public service, but it can become strained under pressure.

If more people use Medicare wait times will get longer, and public hospitals will become increasingly crowded.

The Medicare Levy surcharge varies depending on your income level.

You will have to pay this additional tax if you earn over $93,000 as an individual or $183,000 as a household and you do not hold the required level of hospital cover.

There are a few caveats to this rule.

For instance, if you and your spouse earn a combined $180,000, but you earn less than $21,980, you won't have to pay the surcharge.

Health insurance for 30 year olds

As you can see, health insurance may start to become more expensive after you turn 30.

If you make a certain amount of money, failing to purchase private health cover becomes costly as well.

While private health insurance carries a long list of benefits, one immediate benefit comes in the form of avoiding fees.

These fees start to accrue as you get older, but you can take steps now to prevent them from occurring.

Need help finding an affordable health fund that works for you? Use our comparison tool to find great rates and coverage in your price range.

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Chris Stanley is the sales & operations manager of health insurance at Compare Club. With extensive experience and expertise, Chris is a trusted leader known for his deep understanding of health insurance markets, policies, and coverage options. As the sales & operations manager of health insurance, Chris leads a team of dedicated professionals committed to helping individuals and families make informed decisions about their health insurance needs.

Meet our health insurance expert, Chris Stanley

Chris's top health insurance tips

• 1

  Australia’s public health system is world-class, but wait times for public hospitals can be long, inconvenient - and leave you living in constant pain while you wait.

• 2

  An appropriate private health insurance policy can speed up your surgery, relieving your pain sooner.

• 3

  Family health cover means your children are covered under the same policy as you.

• 4

  Many health insurance policies come with a 12-month waiting period for pregnancy-related cover, so it’s a good idea to get a family policy organized well before starting your family. This means your child will be covered from birth until at least their early twenties (depending on which health fund you select).