As of 1 February 2021, you can buy up to 150mg of cannabidiol (CBD) per day in pharmacies across Australia without a prescription. For any other type of medicinal cannabis, you'll need to see a doctor first.
Who is this cover for?
No contact details required
Compare 40+ funds
Same price as going direct
Back
Close
I'm Tim, your insurance expert.
Here to help you find the right cover for you!
Step 1/2 - About your cover
Which state do you live in?
QLD
NSW
ACT
VIC
TAS
SA
WA
NT
What's your age?
Depending on your age, you may be eligible for an
aged-based discount. This is used to estimate your
rebate.
Under 65
65 - 69
70 or older
What's your household's taxable income?
This is the combined income you and your spouse earn before tax. It's needed to calculate the correct Australian government rebate.
$93,000 and under
$93,001 to $108,000
$108,001 to $144,000
$144,001 and over
What kind of health insurance do you need?
Combined (Extras + Hospitals)
Extras
Hospital
What level of hospital coverage would you like?
You can change this at any time later.
Legend
Covered
Restricted cover, You may be partially covered for
this category.
Not covered. Optional for insurer to include.
*Prices updated December 2024, in line with Finder's database of health insurance policies. Prices reflect the cheapest available for a single individual with less than $97,000 income and living in Sydney with a $750 excess.
What extras cover do you need? (Optional)
Select as many as you want or move to the next step
Preventative & general dental
Major dental & implants
Optical
Physiotherapy
Podiatry
Non-PBS pharmaceuticals
Chiropractic
Emergency ambulance
Remedial massage
Create a Finder account to get an email copy of your results (optional)
Enter your email address
By entering your email address, you agree to create a Finder account subject to our Privacy & Cookies Policy and Terms of Service. We will send you an email to setup your password.
Why compare with us
You'll pay the same price as going direct - we don't
charge fees
We don't ask for your phone number to see prices
Hang tight - we're fetching policies just for you!
Medical marijuana is legal Australia-wide, although the official term is 'medicinal cannabis'.
Only CBD oil is available over the counter. Any other type needs a prescription.
Health insurance can cover cannabis products under non-PBS prescriptions in an extras product, with some limitations.
Is medicinal cannabis covered by Medicare?
Medicinal cannabis may be legal in Australia, but it's mostly not subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), so you'll be essentially be paying the full cost of the medicine. Depending on your script, that could see you paying from $50 a month to a few hundred dollars a month.
Is medicinal cannabis covered by private health insurance?
Private health insurance can cover the cost of your cannabis prescription, under certain conditions. Extras insurance has a standard coverage category of 'non-PBS pharmaceuticals', which help pay for prescriptions that aren't subsidised by the PBS. This covers the majority of medicinal cannabis products.
However, to be covered by your extras policy, there are a few things that need to line up. Each provider has different rules about what they will and won't approve. Factors that change that approval include:
If your prescription is registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
If the item is on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
The documentation you have from your doctor.
The best bet is to ask your health fund before you pay for your prescription if they cover the cost. If you're considering a new fund and you have an existing prescription, check the policy you're thinking about to see if they will cover medicinal cannabis.
Is CBD oil covered by private health insurance?
Over-the-counter CBD oil generally won't be covered by your extras insurance, as funds typically only reimburse costs for prescription medicine.
Since February 2021, pharmacies have been allowed to sell CBD oil, also known as cannabidiol, over the counter in Australia. It's a schedule 3 drug, which means you'll need to speak to the pharmacist themselves in order to purchase it. The most common brand of CBD oil is Epidyolex, and it's typically used as a secondary treatment for seizures. There are some other touted benefits to CBD oil, but this is the main one you'll hear about. Cannabidiol is one of only two types of medicinal cannabis registered by the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods (ARTG).
Important: CBD oil won't get you high, as it has no THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).
Sativex oral spray
Sativex is a brand of oral spray, also known as nabiximols. It's the only ARTG registered type of medicinal cannabis product besides CBD oil. Sativex is generally used to treat spasticity for people with multiple sclerosis or similar conditions. It's generally only used after an initial trial of the drug, and after other alternatives have been tried first. Sativex is only available with a doctor's prescription, and is a controlled, schedule 8 drug.
Important: Sativex does contain a low amount of THC, unlike CBD oil. This is why it's a controlled drug.
Unregistered products
While many unregistered medicinal cannabis products are legal, they still require a prescription from a doctor and approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Only a doctor can apply to the TGA to get medicinal cannabis; you can't do it yourself. The doctor needs to provide medical evidence that you need it, obtain permits and comply with relevant state laws.
Is recreational cannabis legal in Australia?
No, the use of cannabis for non-medicinal purposes is illegal in Australia, with the exception of the ACT. Since 31 January 2020, the ACT allows for adults to cultivate up to 50 grams per person and a maximum of four plants per household. Additionally, the NSW medicinal cannabis compassionate use scheme gives police officers the right to use their discretion to not charge adults with a terminal illness for possession of cannabis that hasn't been prescribed by a doctor.
In January 2018, the Australian Government announced its intention to develop amendments to the Narcotic Drugs Act 1967 which will regulate the cultivation of cannabis for scientific and medicinal purposes. However, cannabis is still a highly regulated drug in Australia and use, possession or cultivation for non-medical purposes can lead to criminal or civil penalties.
You can get medicinal cannabis if there is clinical evidence that it's effective for your condition and the usual treatments haven't worked. If the medicinal cannabis contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), you need to provide written consent you won't drive or operate heavy machinery. Your doctor will need to get approval from the TGA. Contact Queensland Health for more details.
Medicinal marijuana NSW
Any doctor in New South Wales can prescribe medicinal cannabis if they believe it's appropriate and they get approval from the TGA. Check with the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis Research and Innovation for further details.
Medical marijuana laws ACT
Doctors in the ACT can apply to the ACT Chief Health Officer for approval to prescribe cannabis products so long as there is a valid medical reason. Approved conditions for timely treatment include spasticity in multiple sclerosis, nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, pain and anxiety in patients with a life-limiting disease, and refractory paediatric epilepsy. Visit the ACT Health website for more info.
Medical marijuana laws Victoria
Any doctor in Victoria can prescribe medicinal cannabis for a patient if they believe it's appropriate and they get approval from the state authorities. Check health.vic for more details.
Medical marijuana laws Tasmania
Under the Tasmanian Government's medical cannabis controlled access scheme (CAS) launched in September 2017, specialists can prescribe medicinal cannabis where conventional treatment has been unsuccessful. Contact the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services for full details.
Medical marijuana laws SA
There's no restricted list of medical conditions for which medicinal cannabis may be prescribed in South Australia. It's decided on a case-by-case basis by your doctor. More information is available from SA Health.
Medical marijuana laws WA
Any doctor or medical practitioner can prescribe medicinal cannabis if they believe it is appropriate and they have the necessary approvals from the TGA. Visit the WA Government's Department of Health for more information.
Medical marijuana laws NT
Patients in the Northern Territory can access medicinal cannabis through doctors who are authorised under the Special Access or Authorised Prescriber Schemes administered by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. Visit the Department of Health website for full details.
Why compare health insurance with Finder?
We don't ask for your phone or email to see prices.
With 1 click, you can open your results to nearly every fund in Australia.
You pay the same price as going direct – we charge no fees.
Depending on your age, you may be eligible for an
aged-based discount. This is used to estimate your
rebate.
Under 65
65 - 69
70 or older
What's your household's taxable income?
This is the combined income you and your spouse earn before tax. It's needed to calculate the correct Australian government rebate.
$93,000 and under
$93,001 to $108,000
$108,001 to $144,000
$144,001 and over
What kind of health insurance do you need?
Combined (Extras + Hospitals)
Extras
Hospital
What level of hospital coverage would you like?
You can change this at any time later.
Legend
Covered
Restricted cover, You may be partially covered for
this category.
Not covered. Optional for insurer to include.
*Prices updated March 2024, in line with Finder's
database of health insurance policies. Prices are based
on a single individual with less than $93,000 income and
living in Sydney with a $750 excess.
What extras cover do you need? (Optional)
Select as many as you want or move to the next step
Preventative & general dental
Major dental & implants
Optical
Physiotherapy
Podiatry
Non-PBS pharmaceuticals
Chiropractic
Emergency ambulance
Remedial massage
Email me my results (optional)
To get a copy of your results for later, add your email below
You'll pay the same price as going direct - we don't
charge fees
We don't ask for your phone number to see prices
Hang tight - we're fetching policies just for you!
Comparing quotes from 40+ funds...
Frequently asked questions
Yes, medical marijuana is legal in Australia, but most medicinal cannabis is only available with a prescription. While you can get CBD oil over the counter and pharmacies, other medicinal cannabis products like Sativex will need a script from a doctor.
Yes, the rules around medicinal cannabis do vary by state. For example, the ACT has a list of treatments where cannabis products can be prescribed, whereas SA has no such list, with prescriptions made on a case-by-case basis.
No, the use of non-medicinal cannabis in Australia is illegal, with the exception of the ACT. In the ACT, people over 18 years old can possess up to 50 grams of dried cannabis or 150 grams of fresh cannabis, grow two cannabis plants per person (4 max per household) and use cannabis in their home. However, it is still illegal to distribute cannabis, use cannabis in public, or drive while intoxicated.
Gary Ross Hunter was an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio
Gary Ross's expertise
Gary Ross has written 644 Finder guides across topics including:
Tim Bennett is a Finder insurance & utilities expert. For over 10 years he's reported on news, politics, finance and other topics as a journalist and radio presenter. Tim's roles have included radio news reader and breakfast at the ABC, news producer for SBS and producer for Fairfax Media. Tim regularly appears as a health insurance expert on programs like Sunrise and SBS news, as well as in the Australian, The Daily Telegraph, The Courier Mail and more. See full bio
Tim's expertise
Tim has written 122 Finder guides across topics including:
Get affordable cover for ambulance transport if you are not already covered under Medicare. Compare quotes from Australian funds to decide which level of protection is best for you.
How likely would you be to recommend Finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own.
Finder is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stand by our editorial principles.
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labeling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
We make money by featuring products on our site. Compensation received from the providers featured on our site can influence which products we write about as well as where and how products appear on our page, but the order or placement of these products does not influence our assessment or opinions of them, nor is it an endorsement or recommendation for them.
Products marked as 'Top Pick', 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Depending on your age, you may be eligible for an
aged-based discount. This is used to estimate your
rebate.
Under 65
65 - 69
70 or older
What's your household's taxable income?
This is the combined income you and your spouse earn before tax. It's needed to calculate the correct Australian government rebate.
$93,000 and under
$93,001 to $108,000
$108,001 to $144,000
$144,001 and over
What kind of health insurance do you need?
Combined (Extras + Hospitals)
Extras
Hospital
What level of hospital coverage would you like?
You can change this at any time later.
Legend
Covered
Restricted cover, You may be partially covered for
this category.
Not covered. Optional for insurer to include.
*Prices updated March 2024, in line with Finder's
database of health insurance policies. Prices are based
on a single individual with less than $93,000 income and
living in Sydney with a $750 excess.
What extras cover do you need? (Optional)
Select as many as you want or move to the next step
Preventative & general dental
Major dental & implants
Optical
Physiotherapy
Podiatry
Non-PBS pharmaceuticals
Chiropractic
Emergency ambulance
Remedial massage
Email me my results (optional)
To get a copy of your results for later, add your email below
