What is the lowest form of health insurance?

Basic plans are typically the cheapest hospital insurance policies you can get in Australia. They start from around $20 per week. Extras insurance is different. They only cover out of hospital treatments.

How much is health insurance in Australia per month?

The cheapest hospital insurance policy in Australia is around $80 per month in most states. However, the price changes depending on the level of cover you get (basic, bronze, silver and gold) and if you add on extras cover.

Which state in Australia has the cheapest health insurance?

The cheapest health insurance policies are available in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. A policy costs as little as $60 and $30 per month, respectively. It's around $80 per month for the same policies in all other Australian states and territories.

Is private health worth it in Australia?

Not everyone needs health insurance. As long as you're entitled to Medicare , you'll be covered for free treatment in a public hospital if you're injured, fall ill or develop a medical condition in Australia. For many people, relying on Medicare is the cheapest option, but there are benefits to having private health insurance, and it can even save some people money. For example, if you earn over $97,000 a year, or $194,000 a year as a couple, you're hit with an extra tax unless you have hospital insurance. You can buy cover for less than the cost of the tax penalty, so it makes financial sense to get cover, even if you don't want it. Certain extras policies can also save you money if you regularly spend cash on non-hospital healthcare, such as prescription glasses, dental check-ups or even remedial massage. That's because you can easily claim back more than you pay in premiums over the course of the year. Remember though, private health insurance doesn't mean you'll get treatment for free. Whether it's a hospital or extras policy, you'll usually have some out-of-pocket costs. The exceptions are no-gap dental and no-gap optical , which are only offered by some health funds.

Can I save money if I switch to a new health insurance provider?

It's possible that the best way to get a cheaper health insurance policy is to switch to another provider. Switching health insurance is surprisingly easy, with all the hard work done for you, in the background.

Is couples health insurance cheaper than 2 singles?

No, 2 individual policies are the same price as a couples policy with the same level of coverage. In fact, buying couples health insurance may actually end up being more expensive than if you'd bought separate health insurance policies. That's because, in a couples policy, both members have to be on the same plan. So if one person wants top tier coverage, the other person has to get it too. If you and your partner want different levels of coverage, it's worth looking into individual policies instead. This is especially useful for health insurance for young adults , where only one of you may need health insurance for pregnancy , which is more expensive.

How much does private health insurance cost?

The cost of private health insurance varies depending on what you're looking for. You can find extras cover from just a few dollars a week, while basic hospital policies will cost you from around $20 per week.

What is the cheapest health insurance that avoids the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS)?

You can avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) by holding any level of hospital cover that has an excess of $750 or less for singles, or $1,500 or less for couples and families. An extras policy does not count, it must be a hospital policy. The cheapest hospital options are typically basic cover policies . However, it can be worth looking at some bronze policies as they tend to cover a lot more and cost only a few dollars extra.

Cheap health insurance for your tax bill and your teeth

Cheap bronze

HCF Hospital Bronze Plus

Finder Award

25 hospital treatments – 7 more than bronze
One of the cheapest bronze policies on Finder

Cheap award winner

Basic Hospital Plus Elevate

Finder Award

Cheap cover with more inclusions (Finder Award winner)
Covers 15 treatments

Cheap basic

Basic Accident Only Hospital

One of the cheapest hospital policies on Finder
Avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge

Cheap combined cover

starter bronze + black 50 saver

Cheaper hospital and extras cover than most insurers
Covers 18 hospital treatments + 3 extras services

Cheap health insurance: top picks

To help you find a cheap policy, our health insurance team has analysed hundreds of policies from over 40 funds, as well as the latest Ombudsman report. We've narrowed it down to a handful of policies and developed a list of the cheapest and most comprehensive policies in the Australian market.

Why you can trust our research

400+

policies assessed

health funds analysed

80+

hours of research

765

customers surveyed

Cheap bronze hospital insurance

HCF HOSPITAL BRONZE PLUS $750 EXCESS

From

$24.03

/week

Hospital only

From

$24.03

/week

Go to site

Read our HCF review

Our verdict

2024 Finder Award winner for bronze cover. Scores are determined by policies that cover the most treatments for the cheapest price. We looked at 100+ bronze plans in total. You're covered for 25 hospital treatments – 7 more than a standard bronze policy.

Hospital Treatments
Blood
Bone joint and muscle
Brain and nervous system
Breast surgery
Cancer
Dental surgery
Diabetes management
Digestive system
Ear nose and throat
Eye excluding cataracts
Gastrointestinal endoscopy
Gynaecology
Hernia and appendix
Joint reconstructions
Kidney and bladder
Lung and chest
Male reproductive system
Miscarriage and termination of pregnancy
Pain management
Palliative care
Medically necessary plastic surgery
Podiatric surgery
Skin
Sleep studies
Tonsils adenoids and grommets

Extras Treatments
Extra treatments not covered
- It's one of the cheapest bronze hospital insurance policies in our database of over 110 bronze plans.
- You get more for your money. It covers 25 hospital treatments. No other bronze policy for that price covers this much.
- HCF had the lowest average rate rise of the major health funds (2.89%).
- Phoenix Health Bronze is also around the same price. It only covers 18 treatments though.
- It has a higher percentage of complaints compared to other large funds.

Cheap award winner

Basic Hospital Plus Elevate $750/$1500 Excess

From

$23.38

/week

Hospital only

From

$23.38

/week

Go to site

Read our HBF Health Limited review

Our verdict

HBF Basic Hospital Plus Elevate is good if you want a cheap policy that gives you more for your money, which is why it won the 2024 Finder Award.

Hospital Treatments
Blood
Bone joint and muscle
Cancer
Dental surgery
Digestive system
Ear nose and throat
Gastrointestinal endoscopy
Gynaecology
Hernia and appendix
Joint reconstructions
Kidney and bladder
Male reproductive system
Miscarriage and termination of pregnancy
Skin
Tonsils adenoids and grommets

Extras Treatments
Extra treatments not covered
- HBF won the Finder 2024 Health Insurer of the Year award because it offers better value than any other fund we researched. That means it's one of the cheapest providers on the market but you get more in return for your money. With Basic Hospital Plus for example, it covers 15 treatments including dental surgery, gynaecology, hernia and appendix, joint reconstructions and tonsils, adenoids and grommets. That's 15 more than is required for a basic policy. You're also covered for accidents, ambulances and you get your own private room.
- HBF Basic Plus Elevate is within $4 of the cheapest policy available on Finder and lets you avoid the Medicare levy surcharge (MLS).
- It's a not-for-profit, meaning money makes goes back to its members. This is one of the reasons it offers such cheap premiums compared to other insurers. Plus, you get access to discounts on movies, fitness, clothes and more.
- HBF Basic Plus Elevate isn't the cheapest HBF policy. That's HBF's Basic Hospital Plus plan which only covers 5 treatments but is around $2 less per week.
We selected HBF's Basic Hospital Plus Elevate because it won the 2024 Finder Award for Basic Hospital cover. These awards compared all eligible basic hospital policies on the market. HBF won based on value for money, meaning policies that covered more treatments in a private hospital for a lower premium scored higher.
To be eligible for Finder Awards, policies needed to be available to purchase from a non-restricted provider with at least a 0.5% national market share.
Average prices are updated monthly when we update Finder's database of health insurance policies. Prices are based on a single individual with less than $97,000 income, $750 excess and living in Sydney.

Cheap basic hospital insurance

Basic Accident Only Hospital $750 Excess

From

$20.26

/week

Hospital only

From

$20.26

/week

Go to site

Read our Bupa HI Pty Ltd review

Our verdict

Bupa's Basic Accident Only Hospital policy is good if you're looking for a very cheap policy that lets you avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) – but it only covers accidents and ambulance fees.

- Out of 72 basic policies, it's the joint cheapest hospital policy on Finder.
- By buying this policy, you can avoid paying MLS if you earn over $97,000 a year as a single or $194,000 as a couple.
- It covers emergency ambulance and comes with an accident inclusion feature. If you have an accident, Bupa will cover you in a private hospital for treatments that are excluded or restricted on your cover.
- Frank Accident Only (Basic) and Entry Hospital (Basic+) are similar in price. The latter covers more than Bupa. You get cover for joint reconstructions, dental surgery, hernia and appendix and gynaecology.
- This policy doesn't cover you in a private hospital for most treatments.
We looked at 72 basic policies on the Finder database (this includes almost every health insurance policy on the market.) We selected Bupa Basic Accident because it was the joint cheapest basic hospital policy.
Frank also has a similar-priced policy. However, we selected Bupa because 91.1% of its hospital services have no gap services, according to the latest State of the Health Funds report. 86.7% of Frank's medical services have no gap.
Prices are based on a single individual with less than $97,000 income, $750 excess and living in Sydney.

Cheap combined hospital and extras insurance

starter bronze + black 50 saver

From

$26.16

/week

Hospital and Extras

From

$26.16

/week

Read review

Read our ahm health insurance review

Our verdict

ahm starter bronze and black 50 saver is good if you want a cheap combined hospital and extras policy that covers than a basic policy. It covers 18 treatments more than a typical basic policy.

Hospital Treatments
Bone joint and muscle
Brain and nervous system
Breast surgery
Cancer
Diabetes management
Digestive system
Ear nose and throat
Eye excluding cataracts
Gastrointestinal endoscopy
Gynaecology
Hernia and appendix
Joint reconstructions
Kidney and bladder
Male reproductive system
Miscarriage and termination of pregnancy
Pain management
Skin
Tonsils adenoids and grommets

Extras Treatments
General Dental
Physiotherapy
Chiropractic
- It's the cheapest bronze-level combined hospital and extras insurance policy in our database of 900+ options.
- It covers the essential extras services including dental, physio, chiro and emergency ambulance (which isn't free in all states except TAS and QLD). You can also get some free trips to the dentist. It comes with no gap dental check-ups at specific dentists.
- With this combined policy, you exempt yourself from the MLS, if you earn over $97,000 a year as a single or $194,000 as a couple.
- This is not the cheapest combined option. Some basic combined policies will cost you less. However, they typically cover very little. For example, Frank Freedom Starter Flexi-Bundle (Basic) is a few dollars a month cheaper. The hospital portion covers accidents and emergency ambulance. That's it.
- If you need cover for different treatments, you may want to look at bronze+ or silver cover. A bronze policy is required to cover 18 treatments and no more.
We selected ahm starter bronze + black 50 saver because it was the joint cheapest combined policy in our database of 900+ policies. The other similarly-priced combined option was also ahm – specifically, the starter bronze + choosable 50 teeth option. We selected this ahm policy because it covers more extras services.
Prices are based on a single individual with less than $97,000 income, $750 excess and living in Sydney.

Cheap family health insurance

Bronze Hospital $750 Excess + Dental Boost

From

$35.49

/week

Hospital and Extras

From

$35.49

/week

Go to site

Read our nib Health Funds Ltd. review

Hospital Treatments
Bone joint and muscle
Brain and nervous system
Breast surgery
Cancer
Diabetes management
Digestive system
Ear nose and throat
Eye excluding cataracts
Gastrointestinal endoscopy
Gynaecology
Hernia and appendix
Joint reconstructions
Kidney and bladder
Male reproductive system
Miscarriage and termination of pregnancy
Pain management
Skin
Tonsils adenoids and grommets

Extras Treatments
General Dental
Major Dental
Endodontic
Orthodontic
Optical
Physiotherapy
Chiropractic
Acupuncture
Remedial Massage
nib Bronze Hospital and Dental Boost could be good for families that don't plan to have more kids – but want cover for common treatments families often need such as ears, tonsils and orthodontics. Keep in mind: this is the price for a single policy. A family policy will cost you more.
- It's one of the cheapest hospital and extras insurance policies in our database to cover treatments families commonly need, such as ear, nose and throat, tonsils, adenoids and grommets, and orthodontics.
- Your kids can stay on the policy up to the age of 31. This limit applies to non-student dependants.
- It covers 18 hospital treatments and 9 extras services including dental, orthodontic and optical.
- Every family's needs are slightly different. If you don't need some of these treatments, it may be possible to find a cheaper policy.
- This policy isn't for families planning to have more children. For that, you will need pregnancy cover.
We selected nib's because it was one of the cheapest combined policies in our database to cover ear, nose and throat, tonsils, adenoids and grommets, and orthodontics.
There were other similarly-priced options from ahm and Frank. However, nib can cover non-student dependants up to 31 years of age. Frank does not. Its limit is 21.
We also selected nib over ahm because nib has a higher percentage of medical services with no gap: 91.7% vs 83.8%.
Prices are based on a single individual with less than $97,000 income, $750 excess and living in Sydney.

What is the average cost of health insurance in Australia?

According to PocketSmith, the price of insurance increased by 12% from 2022 to 2023, significantly more than the rate of inflation. The table below gives you an idea of how much each level of health insurance will cost you right now.

How much does health insurance cost?

We ask hundreds of Australians what they're paying for health insurance every month. Here's what their bill looked like in March 2025.

Extras only: $50
Basic: $101
Bronze: $130
Silver: $194
Gold: $236

Price based on 500+ responses for single hospital or extras insurance.

How can I find cheap health insurance?

What's affordable is different for everyone, but no matter what your budget, these are some universal tips that could help you get more bang for your buck.

Check your coverage. If you already have health insurance and are looking for a cheaper option, consider downgrading your policy. You may be paying for benefits you don't need.
Compare online. Finder compares almost every major health insurance policy on the market. Comparing your options side-by-side gives you a good idea of how much you can expect to pay for a policy.
Look for discounts. Lots of health funds run offers to attract new customers. This could be a reduced-price premium, free coverage for a few weeks or some other reward.
Pay before 1 April. Prices go up on 1 April every year. Pay in advance before this date and you'll lock in last year's rates for a while longer.
Increase your excess. Choosing a higher excess will lower your premium. Just remember, if you're looking to avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge or Lifetime Health Cover loading, make sure the excess is no higher than $750 for a single person.
Look for a restricted fund. Restricted health funds offer cover to people working in specific industries as well as their families. These funds aren't run for profit, so they can be cheaper, but you have to find one that you're eligible for.
Check if your employer partners with a health fund. Health funds are allowed to give discounts of up to 12% to companies, which those companies can then pass on to employees.

"Last year my first son was born, so getting affordable health insurance with flexible extras became more than just a tax-related priority. Having lived in Australia for only 2 years, I didn't know much about health providers. Finder's selection of best insurance gave me the confidence to check HBF. HBF's Bronze Hospital Plus with Flex 50 extras had everything I was looking for!"

Franco Fagioli

New parent, NSW

Frequently asked questions

Not everyone needs health insurance. As long as you're entitled to Medicare, you'll be covered for free treatment in a public hospital if you're injured, fall ill or develop a medical condition in Australia.
For many people, relying on Medicare is the cheapest option, but there are benefits to having private health insurance, and it can even save some people money.
For example, if you earn over $97,000 a year, or $194,000 a year as a couple, you're hit with an extra tax unless you have hospital insurance. You can buy cover for less than the cost of the tax penalty, so it makes financial sense to get cover, even if you don't want it.
Certain extras policies can also save you money if you regularly spend cash on non-hospital healthcare, such as prescription glasses, dental check-ups or even remedial massage. That's because you can easily claim back more than you pay in premiums over the course of the year.
Remember though, private health insurance doesn't mean you'll get treatment for free. Whether it's a hospital or extras policy, you'll usually have some out-of-pocket costs. The exceptions are no-gap dental and no-gap optical, which are only offered by some health funds.
No, 2 individual policies are the same price as a couples policy with the same level of coverage. In fact, buying couples health insurance may actually end up being more expensive than if you'd bought separate health insurance policies.
That's because, in a couples policy, both members have to be on the same plan. So if one person wants top tier coverage, the other person has to get it too. If you and your partner want different levels of coverage, it's worth looking into individual policies instead. This is especially useful for health insurance for young adults, where only one of you may need health insurance for pregnancy, which is more expensive.
You can avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) by holding any level of hospital cover that has an excess of $750 or less for singles, or $1,500 or less for couples and families. An extras policy does not count, it must be a hospital policy. The cheapest hospital options are typically basic cover policies. However, it can be worth looking at some bronze policies as they tend to cover a lot more and cost only a few dollars extra.

Thank you for your feedback!

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Angus Kidman as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Tim Bennett

Insurance expert

A seasoned journalist with over 10 years of experience in news, politics and finance reporting, Tim has previously held roles at the ABC, SBS and Fairfax Media. Tim’s expert insights have been quoted in The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, The Courier Mail and more. He regularly appears on TV and radio, and has been interviewed on 7 News, Sunrise, SBS News, ABC Local, 3AW and 5AA. Tim is passionate about simplifying complex insurance topics for Australian consumers. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Politics) from Macquarie University and a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification, which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). If you’re interested in a media interview with Tim, please reach out to our PR team at aupr@finder.com. See full bio

Tim's expertise

Tim has written 149 Finder guides across topics including:

Personal finance
Financial comparison
Health insurance
General insurance
Life insurance

Co-written by

Gary Ross Hunter

Journalist

Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards. See full bio

Gary Ross's expertise

Gary Ross has written 619 Finder guides across topics including:

Health, home, life, car, pet and travel insurance
Managing the cost of living

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Cheap health insurance – 5 expert picks
Learn how to get cheap health insurance and what you can expect for your money.

Cheap health insurance for your tax bill and your teeth

There’s a lot of junk out there – so we analysed 400+ plans and found 5 cheap health insurance policies that are actually good.

Cheap health insurance: top picks

Why you can trust our research

Cheap bronze hospital insurance

Covered treatments

Pros and cons

Why we picked it

Cheap award winner

Covered treatments

Pros and cons

Why we picked it

Cheap basic hospital insurance

Covered treatments

Pros and cons

Why we picked it

Cheap combined hospital and extras insurance

Covered treatments

Pros and cons

Why we picked it

Cheap family health insurance

Covered treatments

Pros and cons

Why we picked it

What is the average cost of health insurance in Australia?

How much does health insurance cost?

How can I find cheap health insurance?

Frequently asked questions

What is the lowest form of health insurance?

How much is health insurance in Australia per month?

Which state in Australia has the cheapest health insurance?

Is private health worth it in Australia?

Can I save money if I switch to a new health insurance provider?

Is couples health insurance cheaper than 2 singles?

How much does private health insurance cost?

What is the cheapest health insurance that avoids the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS)?

Tim Bennett

Gary Ross Hunter

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