Teachers Health covers tens of thousands of Aussies teachers and their families. Along with the other funds it runs - Nurses & Midwives and UniHealth - Teachers Health is the largest restricted fund in Australia, with a 2.6% market share.
It has the highest member retention of any fund in Australia, with 96.8% of hospital members still with them year-on-year.
Pros
It's tailored to teachers, education staff and their families.
It's a not-for-profit, meaning the money it makes is invested back in its members.
Good if you have any dependants under 32. They can stay on the family policy until they're 32 years old (as long as they meet the eligibility criteria).
Cons
Not everyone can join – only current or former members of the education community and their family members.
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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
Basic Hospital (Basic Plus). This is an entry-level health insurance option that covers a few treatments in private hospitals and offers your choice of doctor in a public hospital. Designed for young and healthy applicants, it covers essentials like dental surgery, hernias, appendicitis and joint reconstructions. This cover has a $300 excess.
Mid Hospital (Basic Plus). This is a mid-level option, covering a wide range of services and has no exclusions. Instead, it provides restricted cover for some services, such as heart and vascular and pregnancy and birth. You can choose a $300 or $500 excess for this cover.
Mid Classic (Silver Plus). Another mid-level option, this policy is designed to give you cover for everyday health needs, but not the expensive big-ticket services. It includes private hospital cover for a wide range of services, including diabetes management, cancer treatment and more. You can choose a $300 or $500 excess for this cover.
Top Hospital (Gold). This comprehensive product is designed to offer complete peace of mind. It covers an extensive range of procedures, including pregnancy, heart procedures, hospital accommodation and theatre expenses. Members get their choice of agreement private hospital and there's no excess.
Extras coverage
Top Extras. Teachers Health fund's Top Extras lets you enjoy generous benefit limits for a wide range of treatments including major dental, optical, psychology, chiropractic, physio, speech therapy and occupational therapy.
Essential Extras. This offers affordable cover for a mid-level range of services, including general and preventative dental, physio, optical and podiatry.
You can mix and match hospital and extras cover for a combined policy.
Combined coverage
StarterPak. Designed for young people and offering a range of essential benefits, this policy excludes a range of treatments and services that members are unlikely to need. It offers cover for your choice of agreement private hospital and choice of doctor as well as procedures like hernias, joint reconstructions, appendix removal and tonsil removal.
Ambulance coverage
All Teachers Health Hospital insurance policies include cover for emergency and non-emergency ambulance transportation. The latter can cover you for up to $3,000 per calendar year.
Teachers Health complaints
We looked at the 2023 Ombudsman health insurance complaints. Here's how Teachers Health did:
Teachers Health provides fairly good customer service; it had 2.3% of all complaints, which is only 0.3% more than its market share of 2.6%.
However, it doesn't have the best complaints ratio for restricted funds – Defence Health, Police Health and TUH are among those with lower ratios.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, Teachers Health is a not-for-profit, meaning it reinvests its earnings for the benefit of its members.
If you need to make an extras claim with Teachers Health, you can do so in the following ways:
On the spot. You can swipe your Teachers Health membership card on the spot using the HICAPS system to claim instantly.
Via mobile app. The Teachers Health mobile app is available for Apple and Android devices and allows you to take a photo of your official receipt to submit your claim.
Online. You can claim for the following extras through the Teachers Health online members area: acupuncture, chiropractic, complementary therapies, remedial massage, general dental, optical, physiotherapy and podiatry.
By mail. You can download a claim form from the Teachers Health website, complete it and send it along with your invoice or receipt to Teachers Health, GPO Box 9812, Sydney NSW 2001.
In person. You can submit your completed claim form and invoice or receipt in person at a Member Care Centre located at a Teachers Health Centre.
Via email. You can also submit completed claim forms via email to submitclaim@teachershealth.com.au
As for bills from your doctor or specialist, if the doctor or specialist participates in Teachers Health's Access Gap Cover program, then they will send the bill directly to your health fund. If they do not participate in the program, you will need to take the bill to Medicare to be processed before Teachers Health can pay any benefits.
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:
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.
What is the cost of ambulance cover only for a couple aged 60 and over?
LiezlJune 20, 2017
Hi Renate,
Thank you for your question. Just to confirm, you have reached finder.com.au, a comparison and information service and not actually Teacher Health Fund.
Teachers Health Fund does provide stand alone Ambulance cover. If you would like to get a quote, please click on any “Get quote” button and you will be redirected to their website.
Cheers,
Liezl
SamMarch 25, 2017
Hi, I have been told of Teachers Health Fund by a family friend (ex teacher), but am not a teacher myself, is there a way to become a member of this health fund with a referral from this person?
Finder
ZubairMarch 27, 2017Finder
Hi Sam,
Thank you for your question.
Unfortunately, you can’t join the Teachers Health Fund from a referral of a person as it is a restricted fund and only current and former members of an education union and their families can join.
To be eligible as a family member you must be one the following:
– Current or former spouse/partner
– Dependant/s children
– Adult children (or their partner or dependant child)
– Siblings (or their partner or dependant child)
– Parents
– Grandchildren
All the best,
Zubair
KATHLEENFebruary 10, 2017
If I do not use the extras in one year do they accumulate or do I get an extra benefit as I used to in Medibank after 12 months.
Finder
ZubairFebruary 14, 2017Finder
Hi Kathleen,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Generally, your health insurance benefits will have annual limit, which if you don’t use will expire. In most cases, you will have the same benefit limit the next year, although some funds do offer increasing benefit limits for every year you hold a policy.
Cheers,
Zubair
HelenFebruary 2, 2017
How do I find out what pharmaceuticals are approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration but not covered under the Pharmaceutical Benefits scheme which will be covered by teachers health?
Finder
RichardFebruary 3, 2017Finder
Hi Helen,
Thanks for getting in touch. To find out if your medications will be covered, you should contact Teachers Health Fund directly.
Cheers,
Richard
VanessaDecember 8, 2016
Hi,
I’m wondering what benefits THF might pay for abdominoplasty (not cosmetic surgery). Is there a link for specific procedures such as this?
Another question. I’m currently in a different fund for Top hospital with $1000 excess. If I transfer over to THF Top hospital, are there any conditions , additional waiting or exceptions to cover?
Thanks
Finder
RichardDecember 8, 2016Finder
Hi Vanessa,
Thanks for getting in touch. Please note that Finder is a comparison service and Teachers Health is not currently part of the panel of funds we have access to and there is no reference to abdominoplasty on their site.
It looks like Bupa may still offer cover for this so you may wish to get in contact with them as they offer cover for lipectomy in some circumstances.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard
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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
What is the cost of ambulance cover only for a couple aged 60 and over?
Hi Renate,
Thank you for your question. Just to confirm, you have reached finder.com.au, a comparison and information service and not actually Teacher Health Fund.
Teachers Health Fund does provide stand alone Ambulance cover. If you would like to get a quote, please click on any “Get quote” button and you will be redirected to their website.
Cheers,
Liezl
Hi, I have been told of Teachers Health Fund by a family friend (ex teacher), but am not a teacher myself, is there a way to become a member of this health fund with a referral from this person?
Hi Sam,
Thank you for your question.
Unfortunately, you can’t join the Teachers Health Fund from a referral of a person as it is a restricted fund and only current and former members of an education union and their families can join.
To be eligible as a family member you must be one the following:
– Current or former spouse/partner
– Dependant/s children
– Adult children (or their partner or dependant child)
– Siblings (or their partner or dependant child)
– Parents
– Grandchildren
All the best,
Zubair
If I do not use the extras in one year do they accumulate or do I get an extra benefit as I used to in Medibank after 12 months.
Hi Kathleen,
Thank you for your inquiry.
Generally, your health insurance benefits will have annual limit, which if you don’t use will expire. In most cases, you will have the same benefit limit the next year, although some funds do offer increasing benefit limits for every year you hold a policy.
Cheers,
Zubair
How do I find out what pharmaceuticals are approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration but not covered under the Pharmaceutical Benefits scheme which will be covered by teachers health?
Hi Helen,
Thanks for getting in touch. To find out if your medications will be covered, you should contact Teachers Health Fund directly.
Cheers,
Richard
Hi,
I’m wondering what benefits THF might pay for abdominoplasty (not cosmetic surgery). Is there a link for specific procedures such as this?
Another question. I’m currently in a different fund for Top hospital with $1000 excess. If I transfer over to THF Top hospital, are there any conditions , additional waiting or exceptions to cover?
Thanks
Hi Vanessa,
Thanks for getting in touch. Please note that Finder is a comparison service and Teachers Health is not currently part of the panel of funds we have access to and there is no reference to abdominoplasty on their site.
It looks like Bupa may still offer cover for this so you may wish to get in contact with them as they offer cover for lipectomy in some circumstances.
I hope this was helpful,
Richard