The Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading is a Government loading on your private hospital cover premiums. It was introduced on July 1, 2000 to encourage people to take out private hospital cover earlier, and to maintain their cover.
This determines what government rebate will be applied, find out more.
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Basic Plus Starter Hospital
We pride ourselves on providing great value health cover. That’s why all our products are backed by a 60 day money back guarantee. If for any reason your circumstances change and you have not claimed, we will fully refund your membership. *For new members.
Hospital cover explained
Download hospital factsheet
Understanding what's covered
Inclusions
Hospital treatment of the tonsils, adenoids and insertion or removal of grommets.
Hospital treatment for surgery for joint reconstructions.
Hospital treatment for the investigation and treatment of a hernia or appendicitis.
Hospital treatment for the investigation and treatment of the female reproductive system.
Hospital treatment for surgery to the teeth and gums.
Restricted
Hospital treatment for physical rehabilitation for a patient related to surgery or illness.
Hospital treatment for care where the intent is primarily providing quality of life for a patient with a terminal illness, including treatment to alleviate and manage pain.
Hospital treatment for the treatment and care of patients with psychiatric, mental, addiction or behavioural disorders.
Exclusions
Hospital treatment for the investigation and treatment of the brain, brain-related conditions, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system.
Hospital treatment for the investigation and treatment of the eyes and content of the eye sockets.
Hospital treatment for the investigation and treatment of the ear, nose, throat, middle ear, thyroid, parathyroid, larynx, lymph nodes and related areas of the head and neck.
Hospital treatment for the investigation and treatment of diseases, disorders and injuries of the musculoskeletal system.
Hospital treatment for the investigation and treatment of the kidney, adrenal gland and bladder.
Hospital treatment for the investigation and treatment of the male reproductive system including the prostate.
Hospital treatment for the investigation and treatment of the digestive system, including the oesophagus, stomach, gall bladder, pancreas, spleen, liver and bowel.
Hospital treatment for the diagnosis, investigation and treatment of the internal parts of the gastrointestinal system using an endoscope.
Hospital treatment for the investigation and treatment of a miscarriage or for termination of pregnancy.
Hospital treatment for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy for the treatment of cancer or benign tumours.
Hospital Treatment for pain management that does not require the insertion or surgical management of a device.
Hospital treatment for the investigation and treatment of skin, skin-related conditions and nails.
Hospital treatment for the investigation and treatment of breast disorders and associated lymph nodes, and reconstruction and/or reduction following breast surgery or a preventative mastectomy.
Hospital treatment for the investigation and management of diabetes.
Hospital treatment for the investigation and treatment of blood and blood-related conditions.
Hospital treatment which is medically necessary for the investigation and treatment of any physical deformity.
Hospital treatment for the investigation and treatment of conditions affecting the foot and/or ankle, provided by a registered podiatric surgeon. Benefits are limited to only cover hospital accommodation and the cost of a prosthesis per the Prosthesis List, as laid out in the Private Health Insurance (Prosthesis) Rules. Medical services such as the anaesthetist or the surgeon’s account in respect to Podiatric Surgery are not covered under hospital products.
Hospital treatment for the investigation and treatment of the back, neck and spinal column, including spinal fusion.
Hospital treatment for the investigation and treatment of the heart, heart-related conditions and vascular system.
Hospital treatment for the investigation and treatment of the lungs, lung-related conditions, mediastinum and chest.
Hospital treatment to correct hearing loss, including implantation of a prosthetic hearing device.
Hospital treatment for the investigation of sleep patterns and anomalies.
Hospital treatment for surgery to remove a cataract and replace with an artificial lens.
Hospital treatment for surgery for joint replacements, including revisions, resurfacing, partial replacements and removal of prostheses.
Hospital treatment for dialysis treatment for chronic kidney failure.
Hospital treatment for the provision and replacement of insulin pumps for treatment of diabetes.
Hospital treatment for the implantation, replacement or other surgical management of a device required for the treatment of pain.
Hospital treatment for investigation and treatment of conditions associated with pregnancy and child birth.
Hospital treatment for fertility treatments or procedures.
Hospital treatment for surgery that is designed to reduce a person’s weight, remove excess skin due to weight loss and reversal of a bariatric procedure.
Hospital FAQs
A waiting period is the time between joining GMHBA and when you are covered for a treatment or service. If you receive a service or treatment during a waiting period, you are not eligible to receive a benefit payable from us, regardless of when you submit the claim.
You won’t need to serve waiting periods for anything you have previously served waiting periods for. If your new cover has higher benefits than your old cover, you’ll have to serve the standard waiting periods to receive those higher benefits.
Hospital Waiting periods apply to:
- New members to health insurance or those that do not currently have hospital cover
- Members who transfer from another health fund who have not fully served the required waiting periods
- New members that have had a gap in their hospital cover for more than 30 days.
Waiting Period – 0 days (accidents must occur after joining)
Accidents- bodily injuries resulting from accidents which occur after the date of joining or upgrading to a higher cover.
Waiting Period – 2 months
Rehabilitation, Palliative Care, Psychiatric and non Pre-existing Conditions.
Waiting Periods – 12 months
A pre-existing condition is one where the signs or symptoms of your illness or condition, in the opinion of an independent medical examiner was known to exist at any time during the six months prior to taking out your hospital insurance or upgraded to a higher level of hospital cover.
A waiting period of up to 12 months is applicable for any claims that have found to be Pre-Existing by the independent medical examiner. Further information about Pre-Existing Conditions can be found here.
Going into hospital can be an emotional and confronting experience for either yourself or a loved one. At GMHBA we help you feel comfortable about the upcoming admission and encourage you to contact us as soon as you may need a hospital admission.
Our Going to hospital guide provides a step by step understanding to ensure that you feel comfortable with your upcoming admission.
An out-of-pocket cost is a fee charged by the specialist above the benefit that Medicare and GMHBA combine to contribute towards a procedure. Medicare will pay the first 75% of the Medicare Benefits Scheduled Fee (MBS) towards the procedure and GMHBA will contribute at least 25% of the MBS fee. The MBS Fee is only a recommendation and private surgeons in Australia can set their own fees and any fee greater than the set MBS fee you will need to pay the difference; this is called a ‘medical gap’ or an out of pocket cost.
To reduce medical out of pocket costs associated with medical procedures the Australian Health Service Alliance (AHSA) access gap scheme is an opt in billing scheme that provides higher benefits than the Government’s schedule fee and limits the out-of-pocket costs for the procedure. Specialists must be registered for Access Gap Cover (AGC) and choose to opt in for the procedure.
There are two scenarios for how you may be billed by your specialist when they use the AGC scheme:
- No Gap- this is where there will be no gap from the specialist to pay following the procedure
- Known Gap – this is where you will be charged a maximum gap of $500 per specialist, per admission to hospital or a maximum of $800 for obstetric services.
We will not pay on any services that are excluded on your level of cover, treatment outside of Australia, procedures that are not claimable through Medicare and for treatment that occurred outside of your policy being active.
Our promise
Not the right cover for you? We'll refund your premium provided you haven't made a claim.
We’ve been helping Australians manage their health care for 90 years.
We’re not for profit, so we always put the health and wellbeing of our members first.
Find the right cover for you, join online and we'll take care of the rest. Plus, you'll serve no waiting periods if you switch to the same or lower level of cover.
Contact our friendly customer service team
1300 477 057
Disclaimer
This information is important.
Please read and retain for future reference.
Full information about your chosen cover's applicable waiting periods, excess, co-payments, exclusions, restrictions, limits, pre-existing conditions, accident protection and services covered is available within the policy factsheet. The price shown excludes any Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading.
Rates are effective 1 April 2024. | All contribution quotes by this calculator are subject to variation and should therefore be considered indicative contribution rates. | Weekly and fortnightly payment frequencies are only available for direct debits | Calculations include the 2% Direct Debit Discount available only via bank account direct debit, excluding products with AIA Vitality packages| All prices include the Australian Government Rebate on Private Health Insurance as chosen | Hospital Cover contributions do not include any applicable Lifetime Health Cover loading. | Health insurance and AIA Vitality are separate products, with the combined price including your health insurance premium and monthly AIA Vitality fee, less 5% discount off both. When packaged with a single or single parent health insurance policy, AIA Vitality costs $10 per month (less applicable discounts) and entitles one eligible adult member to an AIA Vitality membership. When packaged with a couple or family health insurance policy, AIA Vitality costs $20 per month (less applicable discounts) and entitles two eligible adult members to AIA Vitality memberships. If you cancel your AIA Vitality membership, you will lose your associated discount on your health insurance product. | GMHBA with AIA Vitality packages are only available for members paying by direct debit. Please call 1300 425 499 if you would like the health insurance product only.