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MenuImportant note: The information provided on this website does not constitute financial advice or tax advice. If you require financial or tax advice about your specific situation, you should contact your financial advisor or a tax expert.
The Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) was introduced on 1 July 1997 as a means to encourage those on higher incomes to take out private hospital cover. The MLS is an extra tax of between 1% and 1.5% and is in addition to the normal 2% Medicare Levy.
Individuals and families on incomes above the Medicare Levy Surcharge thresholds, who do not have an appropriate level of private health insurance cover, may have to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) for the period they did not have this cover.
You have to pay the MLS if you do not have an eligible private hospital insurance policy and have an annual taxable income* of greater than $93,000 for singles or greater than $186,000 for families. The family income threshold increases by $1,500 for each dependent child after the first.
So singles with an MLS liability can expect to pay an extra tax of at least $930 pa and families will pay $1860 pa or more.
* including Reportable Fringe Benefits
Note: These thresholds are tiered and will be indexed in future to keep pace with changes to average wages. Please refer back to this site for current thresholds.
Previously, the Medicare Levy Surcharge was a flat rate of 1%, however from 1 July 2012 the Government introduced new income thresholds with higher rates of the Surcharge for higher income earners.
The Medicare Levy Surcharge is calculated on your “income for surcharge purposes“. If you have a partner, your combined “income for surcharge purposes” is used.
|
Income thresholds |
Base Tier |
Tier 1 |
Tier 2 |
Tier 3 |
|
Singles |
$97,000 or less |
$97,001 to $113,000 |
$113,001 to $151,000 |
$151,001 and over |
|
Families/Couples |
$194,000 or less |
$194,001 to $226,000 |
$226,001 to $302,000 |
$302,001 or more |
|
Medicare Levy Surcharge |
0% |
1% |
1.25% |
1.5% |
NOTE: The family income threshold is increased by $1,500 for each MLS dependent child after the first child. Families include couples and single parent families.
The Australian Tax Office have an Online Calculator to help you work out your Rebate and Medicare Levy Surcharge position.
With access to a selection of policies from a range of health funds, HICA can help you identify a suitable high value hospital policy and avoid the MLS for the period covered.
Check out HICA's Medicare Levy Surcharge Calculator and Tax Saver Selector here.
To take advantage of HICA's free ongoing health insurance broking service. Simply submit your preferences for a professional review and recommendation. Get started with the HICA online product selector and quote.