How Good Is Australian Unity Health Insurance? Reviews & Guide 2025

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What does Australian Unity health insurance cover?

Australian Unity Silver Plus offers two main options: Classic Hospital (hospital only) and Advantage Choice Combination (hospital plus “Extras”). Both give broad hospital coverage with transparent excess (500 or 750 AUD per year), solid accident protection, unlimited ambulance, and optional extras like dental and optical.

Australian Unity stands out for clear preventive programs, fast accident response, and annual benefit ceilings for extras. However, some key treatments—such as pregnancy, obesity surgery, or dialysis—are excluded. Advantage Combination lacks cataract and major joint cover, unlike Classic Hospital. Customer experience scores are well below market average, so comparing carefully is advised.

Important information

To help you compare and make your choice, we have added a column with what the public health system reimburses.

Routine medical care

Dental care

Eye care

Specialized and paramedical care

Good to know

Peuvent souscrire à une assurance santé Australian Unity : Toute personne résidant en Australie Âge minimum à l’adhésion : 18 ans Inscription requise au régime public Medicare Enfants à charge admissibles jusqu’à 25 ans s’ils sont étudiants à temps plein Vous pouvez ajouter ou retirer des membres de votre famille (conjoint, enfants) en cours de contrat. Choisissez parmi 4 types de protections selon vos besoins : Individuelle – Pour une seule personne Couple – Pour deux adultes sans enfants à charge Monoparentale – Pour un adulte et ses enfants à charge Familiale – Pour deux adultes et au moins un enfant à charge

What is the price of Australian Unity health insurance in 2025?

Good to know

• Premiums may be reduced by the Australian Government Rebate and can increase based on the age of members, excess selected (e.g., $500 or $750), and state of residence.
• Families with children can cover dependants up to age 22 (or 30 for full-time students/non-students, with potential extra cost).
• No excess applies for child dependants or for hospital admissions due to accident.
• Waiting periods apply for some services.

Is Australian Unity health insurance accessible to new arrivals?

Australian Unity health insurance is designed for people settling in Australia who need private health coverage—such as new arrivals, temporary workers, expatriates, international students, and visiting families. This insurance is especially relevant for those who are not yet eligible (or only partially eligible) for Australia's public Medicare system, or who want extra protection while living abroad. Coverage is structured to help pay for hospital care, specialist treatments, emergency dental, medical transport, and other health expenses that may arise during the waiting period before full access to public healthcare or for services not covered by Medicare.

Key benefits and coverage areas included in Australian Unity's Silver Plus plans are as follows:

• Medical care
• Access to private hospitals (over 500 partner facilities).
• Hospital stays (room, treatment, operating theatre) for a wide range of acute and chronic conditions.
• Choice of excess (out-of-pocket amount before insurance pays): AUD 500 or AUD 750 per adult per year. Excess is waived for children or following an accident.
• Prescribed treatments
• Specialist consultations, surgeon and anaesthetist fees (up to 25% above the standard Medicare rebate).
• Oncology (chemotherapy, radiotherapy), digestive, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and other surgeries when clinically necessary.
• Diagnostic services and therapies prescribed by your doctor during hospitalisation.
• Specialist care
• Coverage extends to hospital admissions for brain and nervous system, diabetes management, ear/nose/throat, heart and vascular conditions, joint reconstructions, kidney treatments, male and female reproductive health, skin conditions, sleep studies, and rehabilitation.
• Some categories (like psychiatric care) are restricted—full cover only in public hospitals.
• Classic Hospital plan covers cataract surgery, major joint replacements, and some pain management with device; these are not included in the Advantage Choice Combination plan.
• Emergency dental care
• Hospital dental surgery is included if needed for serious events (trauma, infection). For routine/preventive dental, only the Advantage Choice Combination plan offers "Extras" (up to AUD 700 per year, some treatments 100% covered in partner network).
• Waiting periods apply: typically 0-2 months for initial treatments, up to 12 months for some complex work like braces or prosthetics.
• Medical transport
• Unlimited emergency ambulance transport (if classified as emergency and not already provided by state/territory or other subscription).
• Up to two “non-transport” callouts per year.
• Additional fees (hospitalisation or death)
• Surgical prostheses provided to the level set on the national government list.
• Coverage for post-surgical care and certain in-home hospital services (where medically necessary and approved).
• No direct coverage for overseas care, non-essential services, or certain excluded treatments (like fertility assistance, dialysis, pregnancy and birth, or bariatric surgery).

Note

• A waiting period of 2 months applies for most new treatments, 12 months for pre-existing conditions (except psychiatric/rehab/palliative, which is 2 months), and no wait for emergencies following an accident or for ambulance.
• Some treatments are restricted to public hospitals or not covered at all, depending on plan and clinical category.

For those who select the "Advantage Choice Combination," extra options include coverage for preventive dental, optical (up to AUD 200/year), physiotherapy (AUD 52/session, up to AUD 400/year), osteopathy/chiropractic (AUD 40/session, up to AUD 300/year), dietetics, podiatry, select pharmacy expenses, travel vaccinations, and certain other therapies. These extras usually have annual limits and sometimes waiting periods of several months.

Duration and validity conditions of the insurance

• Policies are available to single individuals, couples, single-parent families, and full families.
• Eligible dependants are covered up to 22 years old, or up to 30 if they are students or meet specific criteria.
• Coverage is renewable as long as you pay your premiums. Upfront payment for up to 12 months is allowed.
• Coverage is strictly for treatment in Australia; it does not extend to medical care received overseas.
• Membership is open to people with a valid Australian visa, but eligibility for these particular plans requires residency rights and often Medicare entitlements (most relevant to long-term arrivals or those converting to permanent residency).
• Suspension of cover is possible when travelling overseas or facing financial hardship, but subject to strict rules.
• Transferring from equivalent cover with another Australian insurer may waive waiting periods for similar treatments, provided there is no break longer than 30 days.
• Claims must be made in accordance with policy rules; non-recognised providers, overseas treatment, and non-listed services are not reimbursed.

Additional Information

• Australian Unity applies standard waiting periods and benefit limits as set by Australian regulations.
• "Cooling off period" of 30 days applies, allowing cancellation with refund if no claim is made.
• Claims are processed via their digital portal, with contact available by phone or online.

Before joining, it is important to read all policy documents, as some exclusions and detailed conditions apply. For any planned hospital admission or major procedure, confirm coverage in advance to avoid unexpected costs.

Does Australian Unity health insurance cover seniors?

Australian Unity’s health insurance is designed to support retirees and seniors as they transition from employer-sponsored group health cover (often referred to as “corporate” or “collective” insurance) to a personal, individual plan. This change usually affects those who are retiring or whose group policy has ended. The main goal is to ensure continued access to private health insurance, with no interruption of cover and no requirement for new medical evidence—so you are not asked to complete medical underwriting or prove your state of health when applying for your new individual plan.

To benefit from automatic acceptance under the individual extension process, it is important to apply within the required timeframe, typically within 60 days after your group insurance ends. Applying within this period enables your waiting periods (also called serving times for benefits) to be transferred from your previous cover, so you don’t need to re-serve them for equivalent benefits.

Below are the main options under the Silver Plus health insurance program offered by Australian Unity, with coverage tailored for the needs of seniors. Each option comes with its own features and level of protection.

• Classic Hospital (Silver Plus)
• Hospital cover only. Includes access to private or public hospitals for a wide range of medical conditions such as joint replacements, cataract surgery, cancer treatment, cardiac care, and more.
• Flexible choice of annual excess (either $500 or $750 for new joiners), applied only once per person per year.
• Psychiatric care, rehabilitation, and palliative care are included (with conditions).
• Gap Cover available to help manage out-of-pocket expenses when using participating hospitals and providers.
• Unlimited emergency ambulance cover (subject to policy terms).
• No cover for general extras services (e.g., dental, optical, physiotherapy).
• Advantage Choice Combination (Silver Plus)
• Combines all hospital benefits from Classic Hospital (except for certain specific procedures like cataracts and joint replacements, which are not included in this formula).
• Adds ‘Extras’ cover, such as:
• Dental care (check-ups, preventive, some major dental)
• Optical (glasses, contact lenses)
• Physiotherapy and other therapies (chiropractic, osteopathy, acupuncture, podiatry, dietetics, etc.)
• Pharmacy items not covered by the public system
• Preventive health programs and health coaching
• Travel vaccinations
• Annual and per-service limits apply to different extras categories.
• Unlimited ambulance cover included (conditions apply).
• Referral to approved providers is often required for extras.
• Suitable for retirees wanting a broader package—including non-hospital health services.

Key differences between options

• Classic Hospital (Silver Plus) is suitable for those who need only hospital cover, including high-cost surgeries (like joint replacements or cataracts) often required with age.
• Advantage Choice Combination (Silver Plus) adds day-to-day health benefits (“extras”) useful for managing long-term health and independence but excludes some higher-cost hospital treatments (such as cataracts or joint replacements).

Additional points for seniors and retirees

• Both options allow individual, couple, or family membership.
• No medical underwriting is required if you apply within 60 days of your previous cover ending and there is no break between policies.
• Waiting periods for equivalent benefits are waived if you move promptly from an eligible group policy.
• Certain services may have annual or lifetime limits.
• Cover is valid across Australia, but services received overseas are not included.
• If you have particular health needs, it is important to compare which hospital benefits are included in each option before making your decision.

Important Notice (to help you plan)

If you are moving from a group (employer or super fund) policy to Australian Unity's individual Silver Plus health cover, make sure:

• You apply within 60 days of ending your old policy to maintain continuity of cover.
• You check the details of which medical services are covered under each formula—some hospital treatments (e.g., cataract or joint procedures) may only be included in certain options.
• All extras benefits (e.g., dental, optical) are only available with Advantage Choice Combination (Silver Plus).

For further information or guidance, consult Australian Unity’s online resources or contact their member support team to clarify what is best suited to your health needs and retirement plans.

How does reimbursement work with Australian Unity?

Note: This overview reflects Australian Unity’s main member features in Australia and is intended to guide practical usage and expectations. Always check your own policy and current service details for latest information.

How can I contact the Australian Unity health insurance?

Australian Unity promo codes

Note: Promo codes may change. To get the latest promo codes, visit our health insurance comparison page.

FAQ

Jennifer Taylor

Personal finance writer

Jennifer is an Australian personal finance writer passionate about helping people take control of their financial lives. She holds a degree in Economics from the University of Melbourne and completed a postgraduate diploma in Financial Planning at UNSW. Before joining HelloSafe, she worked in both consumer finance and digital publishing, focusing on simplifying complex financial topics for a wider audience. At HelloSafe, Jennifer creates clear and practical content about insurance, loans, savings, and budgeting—tailored to the realities of everyday Australians looking to make smart money decisions.