Australian Unity extras cover
Is Australian Unity Balanced Extras (BCE) worth it?
For one adult in NSW, it costs more than it pays back in all three of the ways of using extras worked through below. It is $83.95 a month before the rebate, $63.70 after.
Three ways of using it
Worked for one adult in NSW, under 65, on the 24.118% rebate, over a year, at typical prices: $200 for general dental, $300 for optical and $90 for physiotherapy.
One dental check-up a year
$664 behind
That costs $200 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $764 in premiums and get $100 back.
125th of the 219 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this. nib’s DentalPass does best, $654 better off over the year.
Two dental visits and new glasses
$364 behind
That costs $700 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $764 in premiums and get $400 back.
87th of the 189 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this. Latrobe’s Core Essential Extras does best, $414 better off over the year.
Two dental visits, new glasses and six physio sessions
$94 behind
That costs $1,240 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $764 in premiums and get $670 back.
70th of the 181 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this. HCF’s Flex My Extras does best, $464 better off over the year.
Your year won’t look like any of those.
Put in what you actually use and the calculator sets this policy beside every other one, with the working.
What it pays
| Service | Benefit | Yearly limit | Wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Dental | 50% of the fee | Not published | 2 months |
| Major Dental | 50% of the fee | Not published | 12 months |
| Endodontic (Root Canal) | 50% of the fee | Not published | 12 months |
| Orthodontic | 100% of the fee | $600 | 12 months |
| Optical | 100% of the fee | $200 | 6 months |
| Non-PBS Medications | 50% of the fee | $300shared with vaccinations | 2 months |
| Physiotherapy | 50% of the fee | $400shared with chiropractic, exercise physiology and osteopathy | 2 months |
| Chiropractic | 50% of the fee | $400shared with physiotherapy, exercise physiology and osteopathy | 2 months |
| Podiatry | 50% of the fee | $300shared with orthotics | 2 months |
| Psychology | 50% of the fee | $300shared with audiology, orthoptics, occupational therapy and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Acupuncture | 50% of the fee | $300shared with remedial massage and dietetics | 2 months |
| Remedial Massage | 50% of the fee | $300shared with acupuncture and dietetics | 2 months |
| Hearing Aids | 50% of the fee | Not published | 12 months |
| Glucose Monitor | 50% of the fee | $200 | 12 months |
| Audiology | 50% of the fee | $300shared with psychology, orthoptics, occupational therapy and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Dietetics | 50% of the fee | $300shared with acupuncture and remedial massage | 2 months |
| Exercise Physiology | 50% of the fee | $400shared with physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy | 2 months |
| Orthoptics | 50% of the fee | $300shared with psychology, audiology, occupational therapy and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Health Management | 50% of the fee | $200 | 6 months |
| Occupational Therapy | 50% of the fee | $300shared with psychology, audiology, orthoptics and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Orthotics | 50% of the fee | $300shared with podiatry | 12 months |
| Osteopathy | 50% of the fee | $400shared with physiotherapy, chiropractic and exercise physiology | 2 months |
| Speech Therapy | 50% of the fee | $300shared with psychology, audiology, orthoptics and occupational therapy | 2 months |
| Vaccinations | 100% of the fee | $300shared with non-pbs medications | None |
As listed for one adult in NSW. A percentage is of the provider’s fee; a dollar figure is the most paid per visit. Where a benefit differs by item, the commonest one is shown.
Conditions to know
Multiple services share a single annual limit pool.
Specific rules apply to dental services.
What it costs
| State | Single | Couple | Family | Single parent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $83.95 | $167.90 | $180.50 | $142.70 |
| VIC | $87.70 | $175.40 | $188.55 | $149.10 |
| QLD | $80.55 | $161.10 | $173.20 | $136.95 |
| WA | $84.80 | $169.60 | $182.30 | $144.15 |
| SA | $88.15 | $176.30 | $189.50 | $149.85 |
| TAS | $61.25 | $122.50 | $131.70 | $104.15 |
| NT | $66.20 | $132.40 | $142.35 | $112.55 |
Listed premiums a month, before the rebate. The rebate takes 24.118% off for most households under 65.
What beats it
For two dental visits and new glasses, from funds anyone can join:
- 1Latrobe Core Essential Extras+$49 ahead
- 2Health Partners Flex Extras: Eyes+$47 ahead
- 3HCF Flex My Extras+$45 ahead
Worked from the Australian Government’s Private Health Open Listing, 01-Oct-2026, with the same sums as the calculator: listed premiums after the rebate, benefits capped by each policy’s limits and waiting periods. Product code I43/NJRH10 on privatehealth.gov.au. How the sums work.
This is general information, not personal financial advice. Confirm the premium and benefits with the fund before you buy or switch. Independent of every fund listed · No affiliate fees, no commissions.