Extras cover — dental, optical, physio and more
Extras cover helps with everyday health costs hospital cover doesn’t — dental check-ups, glasses, physio and more. Funds sell it in three broad levels, and the whole decision comes down to matching the level to what you’d genuinely claim in a year.
The three levels of extras cover
Names vary between funds — “Starter”, “Value”, “Premium” — but the ladder is the same everywhere. What changes as you climb it is the annual limits and which expensive items are included at all.
Level 1 of 3
Basic extras
the everyday three: general dental (check-ups, cleans, fillings), optical, and physio, with modest annual limits. If you'd claim little more than two dental visits and a pair of glasses, this level usually pays for itself and not much more.
- Dental
- Optical
- Physio
Level 2 of 3
Mid extras
the same categories with meaningfully higher limits, plus a wider set of therapies: chiro, podiatry, remedial massage, psychology. The value pick for most households that actually use their extras.
- Dental
- Optical
- Physio
- Chiropractic
- Podiatry
- Remedial massage
- Psychology
Level 3 of 3
Top extras
adds the expensive items: major dental (crowns, root canals, wisdom teeth), orthodontics, and hearing aids, with the highest limits. The catch is the waiting periods — 12 months for major dental and orthodontics is standard, and hearing aids can be longer — so top extras rewards people who plan ahead, not people already holding a quote from the orthodontist.
- Major dental
- Orthodontics
- Hearing aids
- Pharmacy
- Other allied health
What it typically costs
Extras premiums vary by fund, state and household size. Rather than publish a number that won't match your quote, our advisors price the three levels against your actual claiming pattern.
- Basic extras cover (general dental, optical, physio). Modest annual limits.
- Mid extras cover with a wider set of therapies. The value pick for households that claim regularly.
- Top extras cover with major dental and orthodontics. 12-month waiting periods apply to major dental and orthodontics.
Does extras pay YOU back? Two minutes, real arithmetic.
Tell us what you claim in a normal year and what you pay now. We compare it against the actual benefit limits in the policies we can access, and tell you plainly whether you’re ahead or behind.
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Families, singles and couples across every state use Comparify to compare better cover.
How to choose your level
Four things decide whether an extras policy is good value for you specifically. Get these right and the rest is noise.
Annual-claims arithmetic
Add up what you’d realistically claim over twelve months — two dental cleans, a pair of glasses, four physio visits — then compare the rebates against the annual premium. If the rebates win, extras is worth it. If they don’t, no amount of inclusions changes the answer.
Per-item limits vs percentage back
Policies pay a percentage of each invoice up to an annual limit per service. A generous 100%-back with a $400 dental limit runs dry fast; a $1,000 limit at 50% leaves a bigger gap each visit. Read both numbers together, per service.
Preferred-provider networks
Many funds pay a higher percentage back at network dentists and optometrists, and less elsewhere. If you’d rather not change providers, check the network before you choose the fund — it can be worth more than the headline limits.
Waiting periods by item
- General dental, optical, physio — 2 months.
- Major dental and orthodontics — 12 months.
- Hearing aids — 12 to 36 months, depending on the fund.
What each service actually covers
Grouped by the level they usually appear at. Limits, percentages and waiting periods vary between funds — an advisor will match the right mix to your household.
Basic extras includes
Dental
Check-ups, cleans, fillings; major dental on higher tiers.
Optical
Glasses, contact lenses and prescription frames.
Physio
Treatment for injuries, recovery and chronic conditions.
Mid extras includes
Chiropractic
Spine and joint care from a registered chiropractor.
Psychology
Sessions with a registered psychologist.
Remedial massage
Therapeutic massage when clinically indicated.
Podiatry
Foot and lower-limb care, including orthotics.
Top extras includes
Hearing aids
Subsidies toward hearing aid purchase and fitting.
Pharmacy
Help with prescriptions above the PBS.
Other allied health
Speech therapy, occupational therapy, dietetics.
More on the basics in our Health Insurance Explained guide, or see how extras sits alongside hospital cover.
Extras cover questions we get asked every day
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