The Federal Government introduced Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading as a means to encourage people to take out hospital cover early in life and maintain it.
If you take out hospital cover before 1 July following your 31st birthday, you would be penalised with lifetime health cover loading. This loading increases by 2% every year until you purchase cover and can increase to a maximum of 70%
What happens if i take out hospital cover later in life
The loading will increase by 2% each year (that you are a resident in Australia) you delay from the age of 30, to a maximum of 70%.
For couples and families the loading is calculated by the average of the LHC loadings of the adults covered in the policy
After 10 continuous years of cover, the loading is removed
If you’re over 31 the sooner you take out hospital cover the lower your loading percentage will be. Don't delay, take out hospital cover now through iSelect.
Take out hospital cover now.
Ceasing your hospital cover
Under the LHC initiative, once you have held your hospital cover for 12 months, you are permitted to cease your hospital cover for a cumulative period of 1,094 days during your lifetime. Some circumstances do not count towards your 1,094 permitted days. There are also exemptions and grace periods.
For more information visit the Department of Health and Ageing.
