Compare health insurance policies online
We can help you compare health insurance policies side-by-side, with affordable hospital, extras and ambulance coverage offers from trusted insurers. Get started with a free quote today!
Find out all about benefit codes for private health insurance and what they are here with Savvy.
Fact checked
If you’re completing your Australian tax return, you may be wondering what your benefit code is for private health insurance. The benefit code on your private health statement tells the tax office the rebate you’re eligible for, based on your age and personal circumstances.
Find out all about benefit codes, where to find them and how they may affect your private health insurance tax rebate right here with Savvy.
On an Australian tax return form, there is a section you’re required to complete which provides the ATO with details of the private health insurance you’ve paid for in that financial year. The details you provide in this section of the tax return (in the form of a tax claim code and a benefit code) will determine the private health insurance rebate you receive.
The benefit code you must supply is a unique identifier which helps the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) identify the private health insurance coverage you've paid for in that financial year in relation to your age. The code is used to determine the amount of private health insurance rebate you will receive and is based on the age of the oldest person listed on the policy, and the time period when premiums were paid.
If you didn’t have appropriate hospital cover in the financial year, and so do not supply a relevant benefit code, you may be liable to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge if you earn an eligible income.
There are two rows on the form which relate to the months in the year when premiums for health cover were paid. The first row is for premiums paid between 1 July and 31 March, and the second row for premiums paid between 1 April and 30 June. The appropriate codes are as follows*:
| Age of oldest policyholder | Benefit Code: 1 July to 31 March | Benefit Code: 1 April to 30 June |
|---|---|---|
|
Under 65 |
30 |
31 |
|
65-69 |
35 |
36 |
|
70+ |
40 |
41 |
*Correct as of May 2023.
Your benefit code can be found on your private health insurance statement which was supplied to you when you first took out your private health insurance policy, or when you first received a quote for your health cover. You can always contact your health fund and request this information again if you can’t find your original policy documents.
In addition, all health funds must supply policyholders with an annual tax statement. This details the information required by the ATO about the private health insurance you've paid for in that financial year, including the benefit code which applies to you.
However, your health insurer may no longer send this tax statement directly to you if you've previously submitted your tax return online or through a tax agent. The information may be submitted electronically and may be pre-filled in your electronic tax return. This means you won’t have to manually enter your benefit code, as it will already be in the form.
A tax claim code is similar to a benefit code in that it tells the tax office about your rebate status. Tax claim codes are either A, B, C, D, E or F, with each one describing a different personal situation. For example, there are codes for single people, single parents, couples and more.
The code definitions are as follows*:
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
|
Tax code A |
Single adult on 30 June |
|
Tax code B |
Single adult on 30 June with dependent child/children |
|
Tax code C |
Policyholder with spouse on 30 June (including if spouse passed away during the tax year and policyholder did not have another spouse before 30 June) |
|
Tax code D |
Policyholder with spouse on 30 June and claiming their share of rebate because spouse isn't claiming it themselves |
|
Tax code E |
Policyholder with spouse on 30 June and agreeing that spouse should claim policyholder's share of rebate because policyholder isn't claiming it themselves |
|
Tax code F |
Dependent child covered under a private health insurance policy and not entitled to receive the rebate |
*Correct as of May 2023.
You will need both your tax claim code and benefit code to correctly fill in your tax return, although, as already mentioned, this information may be pre-filled in your tax return if you've previously submitted your tax information electronically.
Disclaimer:
Savvy is partnered with Compare Club Australia Pty Ltd (AFS representative number 001279036) of Alternative Media Pty Ltd (AFS License number 486326) to provide readers with a variety of health insurance policies to compare. Savvy earns a commission from Compare Club each time a customer buys a health insurance policy via our website. We don’t arrange for products to be purchased from these brands directly, as all purchases are conducted via Compare Club.
Savvy’s comparison service is provided by Compare Club. Compare Club compares selected products from a panel of trusted insurers and does not compare all products in the market.
Any advice presented above or on other pages is general in nature and doesn’t consider your personal or business objectives, needs or finances. It’s always important to consider whether advice is suitable for you before purchasing an insurance policy.
For any further information on the variety of insurers compared by Compare Club or how their business works, you can read their Financial Services Guide.
Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.
We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.
For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.
© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.
© Copyright 2024 Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd T/as Savvy. All Rights Reserved.
Quantum Savvy Pty Ltd (ABN 78 660 493 194) trades as Savvy and operates as an Authorised Credit Representative 541339 of Australian Credit Licence 414426 (AFAS Group Pty Ltd, ABN 12 134 138 686). We are one of Australia’s leading financial comparison sites and have been helping Australians make savvy decisions when it comes to their money for over a decade.
We’re partnered with lenders, insurers and other financial institutions who compensate us for business initiated through our website. We earn a commission each time a customer chooses or buys a product advertised on our site, which you can find out more about here, as well as in our credit guide for asset finance. It’s also crucial to read the terms and conditions, Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) or credit guide of our partners before signing up for your chosen product. However, the compensation we receive doesn’t impact the content written and published on our website, as our writing team exercises full editorial independence.
For more information about us and how we conduct our business, you can read our privacy policy and terms of use.