Lifetime Health Cover

Avoid a lifetime loading on your hospital cover.

If you’re about to turn 31 and haven’t taken out private hospital cover, now is the time to think about doing it. By joining before 1 July, you can avoid paying extra on your premiums in the years ahead.

What happens if I wait?

If you take out hospital cover later, even just a year after turning 31, you will pay the loading on top of your premium. That loading stays on your policy for 10 years, so acting now can save you in the long run.

Who should consider this?

You might want to think about signing up for hospital cover if:

You’re turning 31 before 1 July this year
You're already over 31 and don’t currently hold private hospital cover
You’re returning from overseas and rejoining the Australian health system

What is Lifetime Health Cover

Lifetime Health Cover was introduced by the Australian Government and is designed to encourage people to take out private hospital cover earlier in life and to keep it over time. If you do not take out hospital cover by the 1st of July after your 31st birthday, you will pay a 2% loading on top of your hospital premium for every year you are aged over 30 when you do decide to get hospital cover.

Age You Join	LHC Loading	Extra Cost Per Month*
31 (before 1 July)	0%	NIL
31 (after 1 July)	2%	+$2
35	10%	+$10
40	20%	+$20

*Extra cost estimates are based on an example hospital premium of $100 per month. Actual premiums vary depending on your policy.

Frequently asked questions

: Lifetime Health Cover was introduced by the Australian Government on July 1, 2000 and is designed to encourage people to take out hospital cover earlier in life and to maintain their hospital cover.
: The lowest hospital premium you can pay is the base rate. To qualify for this base rate premium, a person needs to take out hospital cover before July 1 immediately following their 31^st birthday. People who join after this date will pay an extra 2 per cent loading (in addition to the base rate) for each year they are over the age of 30, up to a maximum of 70 per cent.
: People born on or before July 1, 1934 can join a registered health insurer at any time and always qualify for the base rate premium. Other special provisions apply to people who were overseas when Lifetime Health Cover was introduced, those overseas when they turned 31, migrants, those covered by a Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card and members of the Australian Defence Force. New migrants to Australia who are aged 31 or over will not have to pay a loading providing they purchase hospital cover within 12 months of becoming eligible for Medicare.
: The Australian Government allows health funds to remove any Lifetime Health Cover loading that applies to a person after that person has held hospital cover for a continuous 10-year period. The government recognises that people may need to stop their hospital cover for various reasons, such as during times of financial difficulty. Therefore, people can cease their hospital cover for a cumulative period of up to two years and 364 days over their lifetime, without incurring any premium loadings when they rejoin. If a member ceases their membership for three years or more, calculated over a lifetime, they will pay an additional 2 per cent loading for each full year of absence over and above the first two years when they return to hospital cover.
: Having both Hospital and Extras cover means you have the health support you need, right when you need it. With Hospital cover, you won’t be left at the end of a public health waiting list. Extras cover supports you in accessing a range of healthcare services not covered by Medicare, including massage, dental, and physiotherapy. Learn more about Hospital and Extras cover.
: Hospital cover gives you the freedom to be treated by your doctor of choice, in a private or public hospital at a time when you need it most. Extras cover supports you in accessing a range of healthcare services not covered by Medicare, including massage, dental and physiotherapy. Learn more about Hospital and Extras cover.
: Getting Hospital and Extras cover now means you have the health support you need, right when you need it. With Hospital cover, you won’t be left at the end of a public health waiting list. Our Extras cover gives you options to access services to improve your health and wellbeing. Learn more about Hospital and Extras cover.
: When you change funds, your Lifetime Health Cover loading moves with you. All registered health funds are obliged to recognise the certified age of any contributor wanting to transfer from another fund. The period of absence rule will apply to any gap in hospital cover if a member is not paid up to date with their previous fund.
: The Medicare Levy Surcharge is an additional surcharge imposed on people earning above defined income thresholds, who are eligible for Medicare but do not hold an appropriate level of private hospital cover. To avoid paying more at Tax Time, you can take out an appropriate level of Hospital cover that does not have an excess greater than $750 for single members or greater than $1500 for couples, single parent, or family members. Learn more about the Medicare Levy Surcharge.

Why choose St Lukes

Claim straight away

When you sign up for the same level of cover as your old insurer, providing all waiting periods have been served, you can claim with us straight away.

We’re local

Whether it’s face-to-face at one of our seven customer care centres or over the phone with our Tasmanian team, nothing is as easy as dealing with a local. It’s service for Tasmanians by Tasmanians.

We've got you covered with award-winning value and customer service

We have been awarded the Roy Morgan Customer Satisfaction Award for Private Health Insurer of the Year and Private Health Insurer of the Year (Not-for-profit). Additionally, we received the Canstar 2023 and 2024 Outstanding Value Award for hospital cover in Tasmania.

Switching to St Lukes is easy

We get that switching might seem a bit too hard – we make it easy, even contacting your old insurer to have the awkward ‘it’s-not-me-its-you’ conversation.