What is family Hospital & Extras Cover?
Family cover is designed to look after your kids and the results of their many shenanigans and health needs. It also gives you cover for the things you need as an adult when you finally get the chance to take care of yourself.
As you know, combo cover is made up of hospital and extras cover. We start with the benefits of hospital cover and then crack on with extras cover.
Hospital
Hospital cover for life’s little accidents and more
Kids love keeping us on our toes. That’s why it’s important to be prepared for all sorts of chaos that can arise. That includes everything from bumps and scrapes to more serious unexpected health conditions.
Private hospital cover is used widely in Australia to access fast health care and choose your own doctor. In total, 40% of all hospitalisations in 2020-21 were funded by health funds.*
Plus, all our covers come with an exceptional level of ambulance cover for emergencies.
* Spending on admitted patients Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Our hospital cover advantages
- Less waiting for elective surgery. Get into private hospital for surgery as soon as your doctor is ready^
- Choose your own doctor
- Access Australia-wide coverage at more than 540 hospitals with 37,000 medical specialists
- No excess for kids under 21 on a family hospital cover if they go to hospital
- Avoid Lifetime Health Cover loading
- Receive a government rebate to reduce your premiums (also applies to extras cover – see the income tiers for eligibility)
- Avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge. The Medicare Levy Surcharge is an extra tax to pay for people who don’t have hospital cover and earn over certain income thresholds.
^You’ll need to have served your waiting periods and have inclusions on your cover for your surgery.
Expenses hospital cover can pay:
- Hospital accommodation (100% if the treatment is included on your cover)
- Theatre fees (100% if the treatment is included on your cover)
- In-hospital medicine (100% of PBS listed medications if the treatment is included on your cover)
- Doctor’s fees. Peoplecare pays a minimum of 25% on each Medicare Benefit Schedule fee if the treatment is included on your cover (we pay more if your doctor uses our Access Gap scheme) and Medicare pays 75%. Learn more about Access Gap.
You might be surprised by just how much a hospital stay can cost without hospital cover.
| Hospital claims paid in the 2023 financial year | |
|---|---|
| Admission reason | Total benefit paid |
| Heart and Vascular | $419,582.63 |
| Heart and Vascular | $139,688.70 |
| Back, Neck and Spine | $128,778.00 |
| Back, Neck and Spine | $120,322.65 |
| Heart and Vascular | $111,819.00 |
Extras
Extras cover to help with routine expenses
All that cover!
Extras cover helps with things you generally don’t get for free from the public health system in Australia like:*
Dental is the number 1 claimed services by value for Peoplecare extras members.
Our 2022 Annual Report shows that of members claimed over $14 million in dental benefits in the financial year to June 30 2022.
It’s clear by its popularity that dental care is a top priority for families. Given the impact that oral health can have on our lives, we think that Peoplecare members are making the right choices.
Glass lenses, frames, contact lenses and laser eye surgery. We explain the benefits for the whole family and go through some special member deals.
Sports injuries, health conditions and disabilities can all impact quality of life. This useful batch of extras benefits seeks to improve movement, reduce pain, adapt to new health conditions and enjoy life again.
We know it can sound a bit daunting putting a loved one through therapy with a speech pathologist but we have a guide to ease your concerns about this common treatment and show you how to get the best out of your extras cover and Medicare.
The types of medications members typically claim through Peoplecare are immunisations (for instance, the shots you get before you travel) and the many drugs that have been deemed safe by the Therapeutic Goods Administration but haven’t yet made it on to the PBS.
We couldn’t fit everything in this article. If you’re yearning for more ways to use your extras cover…
* There are some government programs, generally means-tested (subject to income and/or social background criteria), that can help pay for some extras services. An example is the Child Dental Benefit Schedule. Another exception is treatment received under a Chronic Disease Management Plan. Peoplecare can’t provide benefits if you’re receiving a benefit through one of these government programs/plans.
^ Data from the Peoplecare 2022 Annual Report.
Health Management
We pay benefits for diagnostic health screening services such as blood pressure testing, cholesterol checks, mammograms and hearing tests which can be claimed if Medicare don’t pay a benefit. Health Management Benefits are available on all of our extras covers.
Use any registered provider
You can take your extras benefits to any registered provider you’d like. Many health funds only pay generous benefits when you go to their brand-owned clinics. However, you can get great benefits at your favourite dentist, physio, optical store and for every extras service you have on your cover!
Member perks
We're all about making our members feel special so here are some great offers just for being part of the Peoplecare family.
Ambulance
Ambulance cover included
One thing that Peoplecare includes as a bonus is 100% land, air and sea ambulance cover with no annual limits with every Peoplecare cover.* A short trip in an ambulance can be expensive. To view what you get, read here.
*State-recognised ambulance providers only.
Hospital and Extras cover options for families
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Planning a family You’re planning on having kids as a private patient. You need to hold cover for 12 months before you can claim pregnancy and birth services. Even if you aren’t going private, you might want to consider upgrading so that your baby is covered for a wider range of private hospital treatments once they’re born. You also want to be set up for the extras needs of a growing family. |
Silver Plus Grow Hospital ($500 or $750 excess) & High Extras |
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Your family with kids You're not having any more kids and you want to strike the right balance between affordability and cover that suits young families. |
Bronze Plus Hospital ($500 or $750 excess) or Silver Hospital ($750 excess) & Premium or High Extras |
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On a budget with kids This is for young healthy families who don’t need much hospital cover but want a good level of extras cover to keep everyone healthy and smiling. |
Basic Plus Hospital ($750 excess) or Bronze Plus Hospital ($500 or $750 excess) & High Extras |
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Your family with older kids (21–24 years) Let’s face it. Our kids are staying at home longer and longer. And you’d like to keep them on your family membership to make sure you’ve got them covered. If they’re studying full time, they can stay on your membership for free. If not, just choose a cover & add 30% to your premium to keep all of your under 25s on your membership for a flat rate. We call this Family Plus Cover. |
Your choice of Family Plus Cover & High or Premium Extras |