p>An excess is the amount of money you have to pay when making a claim on your Hospital cover — it doesn’t apply for Extras cover. Generally, the higher your excess is, the lower your premiums are. Depending on your cover, some of the remaining costs of your treatment are paid by Medicare and/or your health insurer. An excess shouldn’t be confused with out-of-pocket expenses or a ‘gap’, which are additional charges that aren’t covered by Medicare and are in addition to what your <a href="/health-insurance">private health insurance</a> will cover.</p