Medicare Levy Surcharge

  Health Insurance

Did you know you could reduce your tax?


If you don’t have private hospital cover you may be paying the extra 1% Medicare levy surcharge on top of the 1.5% Medicare levy you already pay.
This may relate to you if you are:

  • single and earning a total taxable income over $50,000 p.a or;
  • a couple earning a total taxable income over $100,000 p.a.

You could be paying over $500 per year extra in tax if you’re single or over $1,000 per year extra if you’re a couple.


The good news is that Australian Unity can help you save on your tax.


Don’t pay more tax than you need to. You can avoid the extra 1% Medicare levy surcharge by taking out Smart Start® hospital and extras cover from less than $1.60 per day*.

Not only will you save on tax, but with Smart Start® you also gain hospital cover and extras including:

  • 100% emergency ambulance transportation (to a maximum of $1,000 per year)
  • Up to $100 per year towards optical expenses e.g. spectacles, contact lenses or repairs
  • Rebates towards general dental benefits including check-ups, extractions, scale and clean, fillings, x-rays and even endodontics and periodontics
  • Rebates on chiropractic, osteopathy, physiotherapy, myotherapy, acupuncture or naturopath costs. (Consultation benefit is $20 per visit and must be an Australian Unity recognised practitioner)
  • $60 on completion of an approved quit smoking course
  • And more.

You have a choice - you can pay $500 or more in tax or you can invest this money towards your future health.

Smart Start® Cover - the smarter choice for your pocket and well-being.


Lifetime Health Cover


You’ll also save in the long term


Lifetime Health Cover is a Federal Government initiative that rewards people for taking out hospital cover at an early age and maintaining that cover throughout their lifetime.

If you're 31 or over and don't have any private hospital cover, you could be paying a Lifetime Health Cover loading of 2% for every year you’re uninsured, up to a maximum of 70%. For example, if you delay joining until the age of 40, you will pay 20% more than if you joined at the age of 30.

NB: Under the scheme your age is determined by how old you are on July 1 prior to joining.

Here's how it works
Matt was born on 1 August 1973, and will be turning 31 on 1 August 2004. To avoid paying the 2% loading on his membership contribution, he will need to join a hospital cover by 1 July 2005.

Join Australian Unity today! Join Australian Unity today.

For more information call 13 29 39 (Monday - Saturday 8.30am - 8.30pm EST).

* Amount is base rate contribution calculated on a single monthly Direct Debit contribution payment of $48.15 including the Federal Government 30% rebate on the cost of private health insurance.