Lifetime Health Cover loading
Lifetime Health Cover loading
Turning 31 and don't have hospital cover?
Lifetime Health Cover loading, or LHC, is a Australian Government initiative designed to encourage more people to take out hospital cover sooner rather than later. If you take out hospital cover for the first time before July 1 after your 31st birthday, you won’t have to pay any LHC loading.
The Facts
- To avoid LHC you will need to take out hospital cover by July 1 after your 31st birthday
- If you take out hospital cover after you turn 30 you will pay an additional 2% loading on your hospital premium every year
- This amount is capped, but it’s at 70% (or 65 years old)
- If you do have to pay any LHC, once you’ve consecutively held hospital cover for 10 years, you won’t need to pay it anymore
- Your taxable income doesn’t have any impact on LHC
- It is hospital or combined cover that you need to avoid LHC, not a standalone extras cover
- When you’re shopping around for health cover, make sure you’re taking any LHC into account. A quote tool might not include LHC so make sure you factor that in when comparing options
- Want more info? You can find everything you need to know here
Find a cover to suit you
Frank's favourite affordable covers
Accident Boost Hospital (Basic)
- Emergency Ambulance Cover
- Upgraded cover in the event of an accident
- Private Emergency Department Attendance Benefit
- Emergency Ambulance Cover
- Dental Surgery
- Joint Reconstruction
Private Hospital (Bronze)
- Emergency Ambulance Cover
- Bone, joint and muscle
- Digestive system
* The price shown is per week and applies to a Single, aged 30, living in VIC. It excludes LHC loading and includes a Base Tier Government Rebate
| Extras services (when included on cover) |
|---|
| All extras benefits except as specified below. Waiting Period: 2 Months |
| Optical, home and domestic aids and medical aids. Waiting Period: 6 months |
| Major dental services (including full & partial dentures, orthodontics, crown & bridgework, endodontic services such as root canal, gold fillings, indirect restorations, surgical extractions of a tooth/teeth including wisdom teeth). Waiting Period: 12 Months |
| Health appliances including nebuliser pump, blood glucose monitor, pressure garments, sleep apnoea monitor, extremity pump, hearing aids, orthopaedic appliances (GMHBA approved), prostheses (GMHBA approved non-surgical), tens monitor, podiatry surgical procedures and orthotic appliances (foot). Waiting Period: 12 Months |
| Hospital services (when included on cover) |
|---|
| Accidents - bodily injuries resulting from accidents which occur after the date of joining GMHBA or upgrading to a higher cover. Waiting Period: No |
| Obstetrics and maternity. Waiting Period: 12 months |
| Pre-existing ailment, illness or condition (other than psychiatric, rehabilitation and palliative care). Waiting Period: 12 months |
| Any other benefit for hospital (or hospital substitution) treatment. Waiting Period: 2 months |
A pre-existing condition is one where signs or symptoms of your ailment, illness or condition, in the opinion of a medical practitioner appointed by GMHBA (not your own doctor), existed at any time during the six months preceding the day on which you purchased your hospital insurance or upgraded to a higher level of hospital cover and/or benefit entitlement.
A special waiting period applies to obtain benefits for hospital treatment for new members who have pre-existing conditions. The waiting period also applies to existing members who have recently upgraded their level of hospital cover. If the ailment, illness or condition is considered pre-existing:
New members
New members must wait 12 months for any hospital benefits (other than psychiatric, rehabilitation and palliative care).
Existing members (transferring or upgrading)
Members transferring/upgrading to a higher hospital cover must wait 12 months to get the higher hospital benefits (other than psychiatric, rehabilitation and palliative care).
Existing members (with at least 12 months membership)
Existing members with at least 12 months membership in total across their old and new cover are entitled to the lower benefits on their old cover.
Silver Hospital cover provides the same single room coverage as Gold Hospital, but co-payments of $100 per day up to a maximum of $700 per admission apply. Co-payments are not the same as hospital excess. Please note: Some private hospitals only have single rooms and co-payments will apply.
Co-payments do not apply.
6 weeks free + skip 2 & 6 month waits on extras when joining on combined cover by 31 October*
*For new members who have not been a member during the last 12 months, joining on combined hospital and extras cover, paying by direct debit. Must pay first month to receive six weeks free. Other waits (including hospital waits), annual and sub limits apply. Extras claims made with a previous fund count towards annual limits. Not available with any other offer or Frank OVHC. Offer ends 31 October 2024.
