What is extras cover? 

Extras cover (also known as ‘ancillary cover’) is exactly what it sounds like: cover for all the extra bits. Think dental. Optical. Physio. Chiro. All the stuff not usually covered by Medicare. Without extras health insurance, you might have to pay the full cost of these services yourself. (Extras cover won't contribute towards things like hospital admissions either, check out our hospital cover for that).  

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Benefits of extras cover 

More in your pocket 

With extras cover, you'll get benefits on all sorts of eligible treaments and services - from physio to chiro (up to your annual limits). 

Flexible Extras 

With select Frank extras covers, you can choose between either 50% or 80% or a set amount back each time you claim a specific service up to your annual limits.

Cover for everyone 

From Simple Extras to Lots Extras, Frank has affordable, great-value extras cover for everyone. Our freedom hospital and extras bundles (Freedom Flexi-Bundle) even gives singles and couples one flexible limit to claim on your included extras each year. Now that's freedom.   

Freedom of choice 

With Frank, you're not locked into one provider. As long as they're a registered private practice with a recognised body that's approved by Frank. Make sure that the services they provide are included on your cover, have remaining limits, and served your waiting periods, then you're good to go. 

Dental savings 

Thanks to Frank's partnership with smile.com.au, you can save up to 15 - 40% off* all dental treatments performed by a smile.com.au approved dentist. These savings are in addition to your existing Frank dental benefits. 

* Savings may vary between dentists. It is recommended that members obtain a quote prior to treatment. Must have extras cover.

Choose your extras cover

Simple Extras 

Our base-level extras cover. Simple and cheap, think general dental, physio, remedial massage and 100% back on optical (up to your annual limits). 

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Some Extras 

Extras cover with a choice of 50% or 80% back when you claim on included services, up to your annual limits. 

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Everyday Extras 

All your usual suspects like general dental, physio and optical, plus everyday essentials like, psychology, exercise classes* and skin checks. 

*The gym membership/exercise classes must be recommended by a health care professional, such as your GP, to manage a specific health condition(s) and must be conducted by a personal trainer.

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More Extras 

Even more bang for your buck. More Extras includes things like health maintenance, orthodontics and podiatry. 

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Lots Extras 

Head-to-toe coverage with all the trimmings. Lots Extras gives you the highest annual and family limits of any of the Frank extras suite, and the choice of 50% or 80% back on each service, up to your annual limits. 

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What extras cover is right for me? 

When choosing your extras cover, you need to factor in a few things. The first is inclusions: which services do you use most, and what do you want to be covered for? The second is limits: the higher the limit, the more you can claim, and the more money back in your pocket. The last is flexibility: with Some Extras and Lots Extras, you get the choice of 50% back or 80% back, up to your annual limits, each time you claim on included services. 

I want 50% back 

If you use extras services often, it's generally a good idea to choose 50% back from Frank. This will keep your cover costs down, and allow you to stretch your annual limits further. 

I want 80% back 

Choosing 80% back makes your cover slightly more expensive, but you also get more money back from each visit. It's a trade-off. If you only visit providers occasionally, this could be a good way to go. 

I want the same amount back every time 

Simple Extras, Everyday Extras and More Extras give you a set amount back per visit (fixed benefits up to annual limits), regardless of how much your provider charges you. This makes cost-tracking and budgeting easy. 

How does extras health insurance work in Australia?

Our members pay an annual premium (which can be paid weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, half yearly or yearly) for their extras cover, and that premium gives them a certain annual limit on what they can claim. The higher your cover, the higher the premium, the more benefits you can enjoy. Extras is a tool that helps you budget for and manage the day-to-day expenses of maintaining your health. 

How to claim extras with Frank

  1. Choose a service covered by your policy.
  2. Find a registered health service provider.
  3. Swipe your Frank membership card when you pay for your treatment/service, and Frank will pay the provider directly - you just pay the difference. 

If your healthcare provider doesn't do claiming at point of service, don't worry, you can pay the account in full and then submit a claim via Frank's app or member area. 

Is it better to bundle hospital and extras cover? 

First, let's clear up some of the differences between hospital and extras cover. 

Hospital cover 

  • Contributes to the costs associated when you are admitted to hospital as a private patient. Like surgery, accommodation, anaesthetists and such.
  • Can give you the flexibility to choose your specialist.
  • Does not include cover for GP visits, emergency or outpatient visits, or non-hospital services, like dental or diagnostic imaging and tests performed when you’re not admitted to hospital.
  • Can help you avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) if you’re a high income earner, and Lifetime Health Cover Loading (LHC) if you’re under 31 years of age.

Extras Cover 

  • Covers you for out-of-hospital treatments generally not covered by Medicare (dental, optical, physio etc.).
  • Provides flexibility and peace of mind when it comes to day-to-day health stuff including budgeting the cost of consultations.
  • Can be purchased individually, or combined with hospital cover.

Frank’s freedom hospital and extras bundles (also known as Freedom Flexi Bundles) give singles and couples one flexible limit to claim on their included extras each year, up to your annual limits. If you want basic hospital cover, and the flexibility of great extras, these bundles are usually a good place to start.

Is extras tax deductable 

Extras health insurance isn’t tax deductible, unfortunately, but you can get some of the cost back via the Australian Government Rebate on private health insurance (if eligible). This is an income-tested rebate (let’s just call it a premium reduction) on the cost of your private health insurance. And it applies to hospital cover, too!

Extras cover and the Medicare Levy Surchage (MLS)

If you’re a high-income earner, it’s important to remember that extras cover, by itself, won’t exempt you from the Medicare Levy Surcharge. This is basically an additional government tax, on top of the regular Medicare Levy payment, designed to get more people taking out hospital insurance. To avoid the surcharge, you’ll either need private hospital cover, or a combination of hospital and extras cover.

Extras cover FAQs

Frank Covers