5 Best Health Insurers with Optional Add-Ons in Australia
Extras cover can be key to getting value from private health insurance, especially if you visit the dentist or physio more than the hospital. In 2025, some health funds stand out with flexible extras-only plans, high annual limits, and member-focused perks. Here’s how the top options compare on coverage, convenience, and cost.
In this in-depth guide, you will learn:
- Is Standalone Extras Cover Better Than Bundled Packages?
- Health Partners – Consistent Value for Extras-Heavy Users
- What You Can Claim, and How Much
- Do extras pay off?
- The Real Cost of Skipping Extras Cover in 2025
- How Extra Cover Is Evolving in Australia
and much, MUCH more!
Is Standalone Extras Cover Better Than Bundled Packages?
Many health insurance plans bundle hospital and extras cover, but that doesn’t work for everyone. Standalone extras cover lets you claim for dental, optical, physio, chiro, and massage – without paying for hospital benefits you may not use. As of late 2024, extras made up 63% of all health fund payouts, and that’s rising. Over 54% of Australians have extras cover, many as a standalone. Bundles can be useful if you expect hospital visits, but for most, standalone extras offer better value and flexibility.
Health Partners
Health Partners’ extras cover is for people who don’t want to overthink what’s covered. Dental check-ups, glasses, physio, chiro, and common therapies all come with decent limits, and if you use partner providers, you often get 100% back on routine treatments.
While their provider network is strongest in South Australia, anyone across Australia can join, claim, and access their broader retail network or choose their providers and still get competitive rebates.
What you can claim and how much
There are three levels of extras cover – Base, Better, and Best. The more you pay, the more categories open up, and your annual limits increase. Here’s how they break down:
| Extras Plan | Key Categories Included | Annual Limit on Optical | Orthodontics Limit | Major Dental Limit |
| Base | General dental, optical | $250 | Not included | Not included |
| Better | Adds physio, chiro, and some major dental | $300 | Not included | $600 |
| Best | Full extras including orthodontics | $400 | $1,000 lifetime | $1,200 |
All plans also include benefits for:
- Preventative dental care without gaps when you use partner clinics.
- No-gap optical frames at Health Partners Optical.
- 20% off most non-prescription pharmacy items.
- Higher physio and chiro rebates when using registered providers.
- Health appliances and remedial massage are under mid to top-tier plans.
Easy online claiming via app or portal.
Why members stick with them
Claiming is easy, and the benefits are clear. Customer service consistently receives high reviews. For many people, it’s not just the dollar value but the lack of admin headaches that makes Health Partners stand out.
There’s no need to chase every cent; most want extras cover that works when needed. Health Partners delivers that, especially if you book regular appointments rather than waiting until something goes wrong.
Queensland Country
Queensland Country Health Fund doesn’t try to dazzle with gimmicks. Instead, it delivers extra cover that works for the stuff you use (dental, optical, physio, chiro, podiatry). It’s a basic but practical, well-rounded cover with decent limits and no confusing fine print.
There are four tiers of extras to choose from. The two that stand out are Select Extras and Young Extras. Both are available without bundling hospital cover, which is a plus if you only want day-to-day benefits.
Young Extras is affordable, and select Extras include higher limits and a few more treatment options, without sending your premiums through the roof. You don’t need to live in Queensland to join, either. Despite the name, this national fund looks after regional members.
What you can claim and how much
| Feature | Select Extras | Young Extras |
| Total Annual Limit | $2,200 per person | $1,000 per person |
| General Dental | Up to $400 | Up to $500 |
| Major Dental | Up to $600 | Up to $500 |
| Optical | Up to $245 | Up to $225 |
| Physio | Up to $500 | Up to $400 |
| Chiro & Massage (shared) | Up to $500 | Up to $300 |
| Podiatry | Up to $400 | Up to $300 |
| Healthy Living | Up to $125 | Up to $125 |
| Pharmacy | Up to $150 | Up to $150 |
These plans don’t hide behind tiered providers or rebate tricks. If the treatment’s included, you receive a set amount back.
Why members stick with them
People who join Queensland Country often stay. It’s partly because of the value, and because the fund doesn’t overcomplicate anything. You won’t get penalised for claiming and won’t be bounced around call centres to get a straight answer.
In addition, loyalty perks help because your extras limits can increase the longer you stay, which is rare. It’s a proper reward for not jumping ship every year.
If you want extras that do their job by covering the basics, making it easy to claim, and don’t feel like you’re being short-changed, Queensland Country is worth a closer look.
HIF
If you care about choice, HIF delivers. You’re not forced into using a set list of providers. You pick who you want (From your usual physio to a local naturopath) and claim the same way. That alone makes a difference if you already have go-to practitioners.
This fund’s big appeal is its handling of natural therapies, including acupuncture, remedial massage, chiro, osteo, and psychology. All are covered under their mid to top-tier extras. It’s not just skin-deep coverage either; the limits are generous, and the policies don’t bury you in traps.
You are also covered for gym memberships, health coaching, and quit smoking programs; the type of things that most other funds typically exclude completely.
What you can claim and how much
| Extras Plan | Includes | Key Limits (per person, per year) | Best Suited To |
| Basic | Dental, optical, physio, chiro | Optical $150, Dental $250 | Basic cover without extras |
| Value | Adds pharmacy, natural therapies | Dental $750, Massage $300 | Light wellness and dental |
| Simple | Major dental, ambulance, optical | Major Dental $600 | Families or couples |
| Essential | Orthodontics, podiatry, dietetics | Ortho $600 lifetime, Chiro $300 | Broader care seekers |
| Advanced | Over 20 extras inc. psych, speech, lifestyle programs | Psych $400, Gym $150, Dental $1000 | Holistic health users |
| Top | Highest limits across all services | Major Dental $1500, Psych $600 | High extras users |
Why members stick with them
HIF has a loyal base, mostly because it doesn’t overcomplicate things. Claims are easy to file online or through the app. You get proper rebates, not token amounts that barely make a dent.
The wellness add-ons are not only thrown in as filler. You receive benefits for staying active and looking after your mental health.
The fund works for people who like a balance; part health insurance, part support for the life you try to live. HIF is easy to consider if you want extra cover that includes natural therapies without cutting corners.
Phoenix Health
If you’ve ever been told “sorry, that clinic’s not in your network,” you’ll know how annoying it gets. Phoenix Health skips all of that.
You can go to your regular physio, dentist, chiro (anyone with the right qualifications) and still claim your extras. You don’t need to chase down a list of approved providers; there are no awkward switches.
The extras cover is refreshingly clear. You can see a set percentage back (like 60%) on most services, up to a limit. There’s no ambiguous “up to” ranges or confusion over who you can see.
You get usable everyday value, especially if you’re not based in a metro area where most provider networks are concentrated.
There’s also a focus on what people realistically use, like dental, optical, remedial massage, physio, and podiatry. You won’t find useless filler categories with Phoenix Health.
What you can claim and how much
| Extras Plan | Kick Start 50 | Healthy Flex 50 | Value Extras 60 |
| General Dental | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Preventative Dental | Yes (no gap) | Yes (no gap) | Yes (no gap) |
| Major Dental | None | Yes | Yes |
| Optical | None | Yes | Yes |
| Physio | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chiro and Massage | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Acupuncture | None | None | Yes |
| Podiatry | None | Yes | Yes |
| Mental Health Support | None | None | Yes |
| Ambulance | Yes | Yes | Yes |
All plans include a mix of percentage-based rebates and set limits. You know what you get upfront without nasty surprises when you receive the bill.
Why members stick with them
People like Phoenix because it doesn’t try to upsell you on what you won’t use. You won’t get unrealistic “rewards programs” or confusing gap cover schemes.
You get fair, easy-to-use, and genuinely helpful extras, especially if you already have a preferred local physio or massage therapist and don’t want to start over.
It also helps that it’s a not-for-profit insurer. The money goes back into improving cover, not paying shareholders. If you want to switch funds every two years, Phoenix has a steady service that keeps people around for the long haul.
St. Lukes Health
St. Lukes Health doesn’t mess around with filler benefits. If you want practical, consistent cover and don’t want to be weighed down with conditions, the Super Extras plan is worth considering.
It covers what most people use, including dental, optical, physio, and natural therapies. The bonus is that it’s not locked to hard-to-find providers.
Preventive dentistry is a highlight. When you visit a participating dentist, you get 100% back on check-ups, cleans, and x-rays. It’s easy for families to save a few hundred dollars a year without thinking about it.
The fund also covers acupuncture and remedial massage, which many insurers still heavily omit or limit. You can claim things that support your physical and mental wellbeing, not just what’s in the Medicare script.
What you can claim and how much
| Service | Annual Limit (per person) | Waiting Period |
| General Dental | $1,000 | 2 months |
| Major Dental and Endodontics | $1,200 (combined) | 12 months |
| Orthodontics | $1,000 ($2,800 lifetime) | 12 months |
| Optical | $300 | 6 months |
| Physiotherapy | $850 | 2 months |
| Chiro and Osteo | $400 (shared) | 2 months |
| Podiatry | $400 | 2 months |
| Non-PBS Pharmacy | $600 | 2 months |
These limits are decent for general dental, which often caps out at half that elsewhere. There’s no “junk tier” cover pretending to be comprehensive.
Why members stick with them
People tend to stay with St. Lukes because it’s a member-first fund. You get clear benefits, a helpful team when needed, and extras tailored to everyday needs, not just emergency workarounds.
Parents rate them for the no-gap dental, and couples often appreciate the extras cover that doesn’t cut out natural therapies.
There’s a reason they were named Private Health Insurer of the Year, and it’s not because of clever marketing. They show up where it matters: good cover, easy claims, and long-term value.
The Real Cost of Skipping Extras Cover in 2025
Dropping the extras cover can seem smart when you tighten your budget. However, many Australians who cancel it spend more than they realise; not on rare emergencies, but on the basics: teeth, eyes, backs, and mental health.
Most of it isn’t covered by Medicare, and in 2025, those out-of-pocket costs are increasing. Here’s how it adds up, even when you’re “being careful”:
| Common Extras Expense | Typical Cost (no cover) |
| Standard dental check-up | $250 |
| New prescription glasses | $350 - $500 |
| Physio appointment | $90 - $110 |
| Basic massage therapy | $100 |
| Psychology session | $160 - $230 |
Preventive care is skipped, and the bills get worse
Skipping extras often means skipping appointments, until something hurts. These are the common preventive services people avoid when uninsured:
- Dental cleans and X-rays.
- Annual eye tests.
- Skin checks.
- Physio for mild or recurring injuries.
- Remedial massage for recovery or chronic pain.
Most don’t feel the effects immediately, but small problems can grow. What starts as a missed dental cleaning could turn into a $2,000 root canal six months later.
Mental health is also often the first thing people delay. Without rebates, sessions with psychologists or counsellors become a luxury instead of a health essential.
Delaying treatment = higher risk and bigger bills
Extras cover makes early treatment more accessible. Without it, people wait. Recent stats show:
- Australians without extras are 3x more likely to delay physio for joint or back pain.
- 1 in 5 say they’ve postponed dental work due to cost.
- More than 70% of people with extras say they wouldn’t have sought the same treatment if it weren’t partially covered.
Hesitation leads to longer recovery times, chronic issues, or full-blown emergencies, and none of this is cheap.
Health and wellness services get pushed off the list
Extras cover often includes:
- A dietitian consults.
- Exercise physiology for diabetes or injury rehab.
- Speech pathology.
- Quit smoking and weight loss programmes.
- Podiatry, acupuncture, osteopathy.
Without cover, most simply don’t book an appointment. It’s not that they don’t want to; they don’t prioritise it when every visit is full price. There’s a sneaky cost to all that deferred care. It’s not just physical; it’s financial, too.
You might lose more than just the cover
If you drop extras now and try to rejoin later, you might be worse off.
| What You Could Lose | Why It Matters |
| Loyalty limits | Some insurers increase annual limits over time |
| Waiting periods waived | Rejoining may restart the 2–12 month clock |
| Combined discounts | You may lose hospital + extras savings |
| Access to campaigns | Bonus offers often exclude new joiners |
The extras cover isn’t just about what it includes today. It’s also what you build up over time, and what you give up if you cancel too soon.
How Extra Cover Is Evolving in Australia
What used to be a basic set of dental and optical benefits has grown into something far more flexible. In 2025, extras cover has shifted towards what people use, like physio, chiro, massage, mental health support, and even gym rebates.
Some funds now cover sleep therapy or nutrition coaching under their wellness programs. It’s about more than just adding new items. Funds are tweaking how extras work altogether:
- Rolling annual limits that grow over time.
- Fewer “preferred provider” restrictions.
- Improved access to rebates for services Medicare doesn’t cover.
- Claiming apps that don’t feel like a chore.
Australians don’t want junk extras; funds know that members will walk if they don’t offer value upfront.
Where the big changes show up
Insurers adjust extras policies to match how Australians manage their health. Here’s what has changed:
| What’s New | What It Means for You |
| Lifestyle extras included | Rebates for gym, yoga, and health coaching |
| Less network lock-in | Freedom to see your usual provider |
| Health fund apps improved | Faster, easier mobile claims |
| Bigger annual limits | Better rebates for dental and physio |
| Preventive care rewarded | Support for early treatment, not just recovery |
Extras are becoming the most-used part of a policy
The extras side is where Australians claim the most. Many members won’t make a hospital claim for years, but they’ll use their extras twice a month. What members say they claim most:
- Dental check-ups and cleaning.
- New glasses or contacts.
- Physio after work or sports injuries.
- Remedial massage and chiro for long-term pain.
- Dietitian advice for weight, diabetes, or IBS.
A good extras plan pays for itself when you’re using it. And now, there are more ways to use it than ever.
Why the shift isn’t just a trend
Extra cover is not improving only because funds feel generous. People expect more and are willing to switch insurers to get it. Here’s what’s pushing change:
- Members want to claim easily and often, not just once a year.
- People are ditching the cover that doesn’t help them stay well.
- Hospital-only policies don’t give day-to-day support.
- Younger members expect digital-first, lifestyle-driven options.
If extras didn’t evolve, private health insurance would be losing more members than it already is.
What to look for now
If you haven’t recently reviewed your extras, now is the time. The gap between a policy that helps and wastes your money is wider than ever. Don’t settle for that cover:
- Caps optical benefits at $150.
- Only gives 30% back on physio or dental.
- Locks you into one or two clinics in your postcode.
- Charges more for less every renewal.
Instead, consider policies with:
- Strong rebates on the services you use.
- Wellness extras that reflect how you live, not just what you claim.
- Clear limits that don’t change halfway through the year.
Online tools that make claiming as fast as booking an appointment.
In Conclusion
Extra cover has changed. It’s no longer merely an add-on; it’s where most get real value from their health insurance. Whether you claim for physio, dental, mental health, or are trying to stay well without blowing your budget, the right policy makes a difference.
Don’t pay for benefits you’ll never use, and don’t stay with a fund that makes it hard to claim. If your extras don’t support your lifestyle, it’s time to switch. Choosing a smarter cover now can save you money, hassle, and plenty of future regret.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is extra cover?
It helps pay for everyday services like dental, physio, optical, and chiro – things Medicare doesn’t usually cover.
Do I need extras if I already have hospital cover?
Only if you want help covering routine costs. Hospital cover won’t touch dental, glasses, or allied health.
Is everything covered under extras?
No. Check what’s included. Some policies skip major dental, massage, or mental health.
What’s a typical rebate for services?
Most pay 50–75% per visit, up to an annual limit. Some providers offer 100% back on basics.
Can I change my extras cover anytime?
Usually, yes. But changing may reset your waiting periods.