Partial-Year Coverage Calculator

The ATO pro-rates the Medicare Levy Surcharge based on the number of days in the financial year you did not have qualifying private hospital cover. If you had cover for part of the year, you only pay the surcharge for the uncovered days. The formula is: (uncovered days ÷ total days in year) × full-year MLS amount.

To avoid the MLS, your policy must include private hospital cover (not just extras/general treatment). It must be issued by a registered Australian health insurer, cover some or all hospital treatment fees, and have an excess of no more than $750 for singles or $1,500 for couples/families.

It depends on your income and the cost of cover. Use this calculator to compare the pro-rated MLS you'd pay for the uncovered months against the pro-rated cost of cover. In many cases, getting cover even partway through the year saves money — especially at higher income tiers where the MLS rate is 1.25% or 1.5%.

Yes. The ATO counts the exact number of days. Starting cover on the 1st vs the 15th of a month changes how many days are counted as covered. This calculator uses the precise date to give you an accurate pro-rated figure.

Yes. The Private Health Insurance rebate applies to your premiums regardless of when you start or end cover. This calculator applies the rebate to the pro-rated cover cost, so the net cost shown already accounts for it.

For couples and families, both partners generally need qualifying hospital cover for the household to be exempt from the MLS. If one partner has cover and the other doesn't, the MLS may still apply. Use the family status option in this calculator to model your situation.