An excess is the amount you elect to pay towards your hospital admission, before we pay a benefit. It's one of the things you can't claim back. Selecting an excess means your premiums are lower.

The excess is only payable if you, or someone on your policy, go to hospital - it does not apply to Extras cover.

Depending on your health cover, you'll have to pay the excess each time you are admitted to hospital. But we cap it to a set amount per year. The amount varies depending on your health cover.

important    Please note that if you change your cover to a lower excess and you’re still serving waiting periods, your previous hospital cover excess may apply. See Hospital Waiting periods for more information 

Good news for families.

If you’re on a selected family cover, you won’t pay an excess if one of your child dependants (up to 21 years of age) has to go to hospital. 

Before going to hospital, you should always check your cover's hospital excess.