Our family of four joined Medibank Comprehensive Extras Boost 75% this year. Like many families, we wanted to know whether the benefits we receive would justify the premiums we pay.
In this post, I explain our premium, the main benefits included in our cover, how the optical allowance works, and what families should consider before choosing a similar policy.
The figures below are based on our membership details and Medibank’s published cover information available in September 2026. Benefits, premiums and promotional offers can change, so check your own cover summary before making a decision.
What we pay
Our family premium is approximately $176 per month, or $2,112 over 12 months, at the rate we currently pay. Check whether your quoted premium is before or after any Australian Government rebate.
| Premium details | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly premium | $176 |
| Annual premium at the current rate | $2,112 |
| Illustrative value of four free weeks | $162.46 |
| Illustrative first-year cost after four free weeks | $1,949.54 |
The first-year figure assumes the four-week promotion applies to our membership and that the regular premium remains unchanged. It is an estimate rather than a statement of the final amount charged.
Medibank has also advertised promotions that waive selected waiting periods for eligible services. The waiver depends on the offer’s terms and the particular services included, so confirm the details that apply to your policy.
What does Comprehensive Extras Boost 75% cover?
The 75% benefit generally applies to eligible services at Members’ Choice providers, subject to the policy’s annual limits and rules. Optical benefits work differently: eligible items are covered at 100% up to the applicable limit. At recognised providers outside the Members’ Choice network, benefits may be paid as fixed amounts rather than a percentage of the bill.
The table below summarises selected benefits. Your current cover summary takes precedence, particularly for combined limits, eligible items and waiting periods.
| Service | Published benefit or limit | Standard waiting period |
|---|---|---|
| General dental | No annual limit on this cover | 2 months |
| Dental check-ups at eligible Members’ Choice Advantage dentists | 100% back on up to 2 check-ups per person each year | 2 months |
| Major dental and endodontic services | $1,000 per person, subject to the applicable combined limit | 12 months |
| Optical | 100% back on eligible items, up to $225 per person | 6 months |
| Physiotherapy | $600 per person | 2 months |
| Podiatry and eligible orthotics | $400 per person, subject to applicable combined limits | 2 months |
| Orthodontics | $800 per person in a year, with a $2,400 lifetime limit | 12 months |
These are selected benefits, not a complete policy schedule. Some services share limits, and benefits can vary by service item and provider. Check the current cover summary for the full conditions.
Why the dental benefit stands out
One feature worth understanding is the benefit for dental check-ups at eligible Members’ Choice Advantage dentists. Eligible members can receive 100% back on up to two check-ups per person each year, including eligible bitewing X-rays where clinically required. These check-ups do not count towards the annual limit.
For a family of four, that could mean up to eight eligible check-ups each calendar year. However, the benefit is subject to the policy rules, provider eligibility and waiting period.
General dental also has no annual limit on this level of cover, but that does not mean every dental procedure is automatically free. The benefit paid depends on the service, provider, eligibility rules and any applicable conditions.
Optical: up to $900 for a family of four
Optical is another benefit worth checking when comparing Extras policies.
Under our cover, the published optical allowance is $225 per person. If all four family members are eligible and have their full annual allowance available, the combined potential benefit is up to $900 per calendar year.
The key points are:
- Eligible prescription glasses and selected contact lenses can receive 100% back up to the individual annual limit.
- Prescription sunglasses may qualify when they meet Medibank’s eligibility rules.
- Ordinary non-prescription sunglasses are not covered under the prescription optical benefit.
- Some lens options and coatings may be excluded.
- The allowance is a maximum benefit, not a cash credit. Unused amounts generally cannot be treated as cash or carried forward indefinitely.
The important distinction is that 100% back does not mean unlimited cover. Once the applicable annual limit is reached, additional eligible purchases may require you to pay the difference.
Before ordering glasses, check that the item qualifies and confirm how much of the optical limit remains available for each family member.
Dental, physiotherapy and podiatry
Dental
Before booking treatment, check whether the dentist is a Members’ Choice Advantage provider and whether the service qualifies for the 100% check-up benefit.
For more expensive treatment, ask the dentist for the relevant item numbers and an estimate. You can then check with Medibank how much it expects to pay before committing to the procedure.
Physiotherapy
The $600 annual limit is the maximum benefit available under the policy, not an automatic $600 refund.
For example, if a service attracts a 75% benefit and the full charge is eligible, you would need $800 in eligible treatment charges to generate $600 in benefits. Actual payments can differ because of service-specific benefit amounts, provider arrangements and policy rules.
Podiatry and orthotics
The published podiatry limit is $400 per person, but eligible orthotics may share that limit. Before purchasing orthotics, confirm that the specific item and provider qualify and ask how the purchase would affect the remaining allowance.
Is it worth the premium?
The best way to assess Extras cover is to compare the benefits actually paid with the premiums actually paid. Maximum annual limits show what may be available; they do not guarantee that your family will claim that amount.
Using our current premium as a simple example:
| Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual premium at $176 per month | $2,112 |
| Illustrative value of four free weeks | −$162.46 |
| Illustrative first-year premium cost | $1,949.54 |
To break even on this simplified first-year calculation, the total value of benefits received would need to reach approximately $1,950. For a fair comparison, count the actual benefits paid during the same period and account for any promotion that genuinely applied to your membership.
A useful way to track the result is to record these figures throughout the year:
| What to track | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Premiums paid | Shows the real cost of keeping the policy |
| Optical benefits received | Helps measure the value of the optical allowance |
| Dental benefits received | Includes eligible check-ups and other dental treatment |
| Physio, podiatry and other benefits | Shows whether your family uses the cover beyond dental and optical |
| Total benefits paid | Allows a direct comparison with premiums |
Our verdict: We will judge the value of our cover using our actual claims and premiums, rather than assuming we will use every available benefit. We will review the numbers at renewal, especially because a first-year promotion may not be available in the following year.
For another family, a cheaper Extras policy may be enough if they rarely use dental, optical or allied health services. Families with children who regularly need eligible dental treatment, glasses or physiotherapy may find broader cover more useful, but it depends on their needs and the benefits they actually receive.
Five tips before choosing Medibank Extras
- Check provider eligibility. Members’ Choice and Members’ Choice Advantage benefits differ, and not every provider offers the same arrangements.
- Confirm waiting periods. Do not assume a promotion waives every waiting period or applies to every service.
- Understand the dental check-up benefit. Check the number of eligible visits, the provider requirements and whether the service is covered separately from annual limits.
- Check optical limits before buying glasses. Confirm eligible items and each family member’s remaining allowance.
- Review actual claims at renewal. Compare benefits received with premiums paid instead of adding together the maximum limits advertised for every service.
Frequently asked questions
When do Medibank Extras annual limits reset?
Many annual limits reset on 1 January, but check your specific policy terms for how each limit is calculated.
Does Medibank Extras cover sunglasses?
Eligible prescription sunglasses may qualify under the optical benefit. Ordinary non-prescription sunglasses are not covered under the prescription optical benefit. Eligibility and exclusions apply.
Does Comprehensive Extras Boost have an annual limit for general dental?
Medibank’s published information lists no annual limit for general dental on Comprehensive Extras Boost. Individual services remain subject to eligibility rules, waiting periods and provider-specific benefits.
Does 75% cover mean Medibank pays 75% of every bill?
No. The percentage generally applies to eligible services at Members’ Choice providers, subject to policy rules and annual limits. Other providers may attract fixed benefits, and optical has its own benefit structure.
This article reflects our understanding of our family’s cover and is for general information only. It is not financial or insurance advice. We are not sponsored by Medibank and do not receive a referral reward unless explicitly disclosed otherwise.
Leave a Reply