Medicare levy and surcharge calculator
The health levy charged alongside income tax, and any surcharge that applies.
Medicare levy and surcharge
Estimate$3,900.00
Tier 2: a 1.25% surcharge on top of the 2% levy
- Medicare levy
- $2,400.00
- Surcharge
- $1,500.00
- Combined rate
- 3.25%
| Taxable income | $120,000 |
|---|---|
| Medicare levy (2%) | -$2,400.00 |
| Surcharge (1.25%) | -$1,500.00 |
| Total | -$3,900.00 |
- A basic hospital policy usually costs less than the 1,500 surcharge at this income.
The levy is charged on taxable income at a flat 2% in Australia; the surcharge of 1% to 1.5% depends on whether you hold qualifying cover.
Do you qualify
How this is calculated
A levy on taxable income
A flat percentage of taxable income — 2% in Australia — with a low-income shade-in band beneath it. It is calculated separately from income tax and has its own thresholds rather than following the tax brackets.
levy = taxable income × levy rateA surcharge for higher earners without cover
Above an income threshold, people without qualifying private hospital cover pay an additional 1% to 1.5%. The policy exists to push higher earners toward private cover, so a basic policy is usually cheaper than the surcharge it avoids.
The income test is broader than a payslip
Surcharge income typically adds reportable fringe benefits, reportable employer super contributions and net investment losses back onto taxable income. A $12,000 salary sacrifice can therefore cut income tax and still leave you in the same surcharge tier.
Worked example: A middle income without private cover
| Taxable income | $120,000 |
|---|
| Levy and surcharge | Depends on your country |
|---|
Choose a country above to see the rates that apply.
What this assumes
- Full-year residency in the selected country.
- No levy exemption or reduction claimed.
- Cover, if held, applies for the full year.
- Surcharge income equals taxable income.
Where this commonly goes wrong
- A health levy is usually assessed on a broader income measure than the salary on a payslip, so bonuses and salary-sacrificed super can push you over a threshold.
- Private cover exemptions normally require a specific hospital policy with a capped excess, not any insurance — extras-only cover rarely qualifies.
- Holding cover for part of a year usually gives partial relief only: the surcharge applies for the days you were uncovered.
Questions
What is a health levy?
A charge collected alongside income tax to fund public healthcare. Rates, thresholds and any private-insurance exemption differ by country, so pick a country above for figures that apply to you.
Why does private insurance change the amount?
Some systems charge higher earners an additional amount unless they hold qualifying private cover, on the basis that they are then drawing less on the public system.
Is the levy the same as income tax?
No. It is calculated separately, often on a different income measure, and it usually has its own low-income exemption rather than following the income tax thresholds. Two people on the same salary can pay the same tax and a different levy.
How is a shade-in band different from a threshold?
A hard threshold switches the full rate on at one dollar over the line. A shade-in charges a higher rate on just the excess, so the levy rises gradually — in Australia at 10% of the amount above the lower threshold until the full 2% takes over.
Does the surcharge apply to couples differently?
Yes. Couples and families are assessed on combined income against a higher threshold, which then rises further for each dependent child after the first. A single high earner in a couple can therefore avoid a surcharge a single person would pay.
Related tools
Sources
General estimate based on published ATO rates for the the current period. Not tax advice, and it does not consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. Confirm your position with the ATO or a registered tax agent.
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