If you have health insurance, you may be eligible to receive the Australian Government Rebate to help towards your premium.
- The government rebate is there to encourage you to get health insurance
- The more you earn the lower your rebate will be
- Your age and family status will also affect your rebate
The rebate for private health insurance was put in place by the government to help people pay their premiums.
However, it is income tested – the more you earn the lower your rebate will be. It’s also affected by your age, and whether you’re single or have a family.
Sharing your tier information with your health fund
Health funds rely on you to give them the correct information about your earnings bracket and set your premium accordingly.
If you choose a lower income tier than the one you’re in and claim a higher rebate than your yearly income allows, there’s no penalty from your health fund. But at tax time, the Australian Tax Office will charge you for any shortfall in your tax.
Equally, if you inadvertently put yourself in a higher tier than the one you should be in, you’ll likely get a refund.
You can choose not to share your tier, or pay a standard health insurance premium throughout the year and claim your rebate entitlement in a lump sum when you lodge your yearly tax return.
Which rebate tier are you in?
Use this chart from privatehealth.gov.au to find out which tier you fall into.
SINGLES | < or = $90,000 | $90,001 - 105,000 | $105,001 - 140,000 | > or = $140,001 |
FAMILIES | < or = $180,000 | $180,001 - 210,000 | $210,001 - 280,000 | > or = $280,001 |
REBATE | ||||
Base tier | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | |
< age 65 | 25.059% |
16.706% |
8.352% |
0% |
Age 65 - 69 | 29.236% |
20.883% |
12.529% |
0% |
Age 70+ | 33.413% |
25.059% |
16.706% |
0% |
MEDICARE LEVY SURCHARGE | ||||
All ages | 0.0% | 1.0% |
1.25% |
1.5% |
Single parents and couples (including de facto couples) are subject to family tiers. For families with children, the thresholds are increased by $1,500 for each child after the first.
Government Rebate FAQs
How can I claim or modify my rebate?
There are several ways to do this:
- Log into My Membership app or online member services, go to "My Cover" then "Australian Govt. Rebate" to change or claim the rebate
- Complete the form on our website and email to join.cancel@hcf.com.au
- Visit any HCF branch
- Call us on 13 13 34
What if I choose an incorrect tier?
If you choose a rebate that doesn’t match your income, you'll likely either get a refund or pay the difference at tax time.
Your rebate can be easily updated if you choose an incorrect tier or if your income has changed and you qualify for a different rebate tier. Please note this can only be backdated to beginning of the current tax year.
If you’d like to update your rebate, there are a few ways to do so:
- Log into My Membership app or online member services, go to "My Cover" then "Australian Govt. Rebate" to change or claim the rebate
- Complete the form on our website and email to join.cancel@hcf.com.au
- Visit any HCF branch
- Call us on 13 13 34
Related articles
Insurance FAQs
Your go-to guide on private healthcare, managing your membership and more.