Question 1

How much does health insurance cost in Australia?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your age, your state, your household and the level of cover — which is why we don't quote a single number. A basic hospital policy for a single sits at the bottom of the range; Gold family cover with top extras sits at the top. The government rebate takes 24.1% off for most people under 65, and more after that. Two minutes in our comparison gives you your real price across 14 funds.

Question 2

I'm healthy and under 35 — is it actually worth it?

Accepted Answer

Often, yes, but for financial reasons rather than medical ones. If you earn above $105,000 as a single, the Medicare Levy Surcharge takes 1–1.5% of your income, and a basic hospital policy usually costs less than the surcharge it switches off. Taking cover before the 1 July after your 31st birthday also avoids Lifetime Health Cover loading for good. If you earn below the threshold and rarely use extras, it's a genuine maths question — and we'll tell you honestly if the answer is no.

Question 3

What's the difference between hospital and extras cover?

Accepted Answer

Hospital cover pays for treatment as an admitted private patient: your choice of doctor, a private room where available, and off the public waiting list. Extras cover pays for everyday care Medicare doesn't touch — dental, optical, physio, psychology and more. You can hold either on its own, or both together as a combined policy.

Question 4

Do I lose my waiting periods if I switch funds?

Accepted Answer

No. Portability is law: if you switch to the same or a lower level of cover, every waiting period you've already served transfers with you and your new fund can't make you start again. You only serve a new wait on anything that's genuinely an upgrade. Your old fund also has to refund premiums you've paid in advance.

Question 5

Can a fund refuse me or charge me more because of my age or health?

Accepted Answer

No — Australian private health insurance is community rated. Every fund must accept you and charge everyone the same base premium for the same policy, regardless of age, health history or how much you're likely to claim. Age only affects your price through the under-30 discount, Lifetime Health Cover loading and the rebate tier you fall into.

Question 6

What does the government rebate actually do to my premium?

Accepted Answer

It's a direct discount on what you pay, applied upfront by the fund rather than at tax time. In 2026–27 the base-tier rebate is 24.1% under 65, 28.1% from 65 and 32.2% from 70. So a 71-year-old on a base-tier income looking at a $300-a-month policy pays roughly $203 — about $97 a month less than the sticker price. It tapers to zero for singles above $164,000.

Question 7

When do premiums go up, and what should I do about it?

Accepted Answer

Every 1 April, once a year, after the Health Minister approves each fund's increase — the 2026 round averaged 4.41%, the largest since 2017. The weeks before April are the best time to review: you can switch on current pricing, or pre-pay up to 12 months at the old rate. A 15-minute check often saves more than the increase.

Question 8

What isn't covered by private health insurance?

Accepted Answer

GP visits and out-of-hospital specialist appointments are Medicare's job — private cover legally can't pay for them. Also excluded: cosmetic surgery, most treatment overseas, anything outside your policy's clinical categories, and services you haven't served the waiting period on. Extras limits are annual, so once you hit the cap for the year, the rest is yours to pay.

Question 9

Do children cost extra on a family policy?

Accepted Answer

Usually not. Most funds charge one family premium regardless of how many dependent children you add, and many waive the hospital excess when a child is admitted. Kids stay on the policy to 21 as standard, generally to 25 while studying full-time, and some funds now cover adult dependants to 31.

Question 10

Is it better to get hospital and extras from the same fund?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily. A combined policy is simpler and sometimes cheaper, but you can absolutely hold hospital with one fund and extras with another if that's where the value is. We compare both combinations — whichever gives you the better outcome is the one we'll recommend.

Compare health insurance — with an advisor who actually knows the funds.

Health cover for your stage of life

Over 60s

Young singles & couples

Growing families

Established families

The two kinds of cover — and the levels inside each

Hospital cover tiers: Basic, Bronze, Silver and Gold

Basic

Bronze

Silver

Gold

Extras cover levels: basic, mid and top

Basic extras

Mid extras

Top extras

How to decide

The rules that apply to everyone

The Australian Government Rebate

The Medicare Levy and the Surcharge

Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading

Waiting periods

Switching funds

Premiums rise every 1 April

Australian-based expert advisors, not an offshore call-centre

Real advisors

The full panel

Same price as direct

No obligation

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Wondering if extras are still worth it?

Health insurance questions, answered

Let's find the cover that fits the life you're actually living.