Singles Health Insurance
Health insurance is available for singles, couples and families. Singles health insurance can be found from around $23 a week* for combined cover.
Key takeaways
- Singles health insurance is available for hospital and extras cover, or combined cover.
- The cost of singles health insurance starts at $23 a week* for combined cover.
- For couples without kids, getting 2 single health insurance policies is generally cheaper than a dedicated couples policy.
*Prices are based on a single individual with less than $97,000 income, $750 excess and living in Sydney.
How does health insurance for singles work?
Health insurance comes in two types, hospital and extras. Private hospital insurance covers treatments performed in private hospitals, like a torn ACL or chemotherapy. Extras health insurance covers health treatments outside of hospital, such as dental appointments and prescription glasses.
You can buy these policies separately or together. So you can mix and match between different insurance companies if you like, or keep things simple and stay with one brand.
Finder survey: What kind of health insurance do Australians have?
Response | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Combined | 35% | 30.46% |
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1006 Australians, December 2023
How much does singles health insurance cost?
The cost of private health insurance varies on the level of cover you need. Below are the average prices of a few different levels of cover, based on our analysis from January 2023 (based on single hospital policies from all states, $750 excess, with no surcharges or rebate applied).
- Gold hospital policies had an average cost of $228.36 per month
- Silver hospital policies had an average cost of $179.72 per month
- Bronze hospital policies had an average cost of $119.96 per month
- Basic hospital policies had an average cost of $98.89 per month
- The average cost of an extras policy was $67.65 per month
If you're taking out a new policy or switching providers, you should check what health insurance deals and sign-up offers are available. For example, it's common for insurers to offer several weeks free if you sign up to a combined policy.
What to look for in singles health insurance
There's no one best health insurance that will suit all Australian singles. Instead, you'll need to consider a range of factors to decide if a particular policy is right for you.
- Benefits. Don't bother with benefits you won't use. You can use the tiers as a guide for hospital insurance but you have to dig a little deeper with extras.
- Limits. For extras insurance, you'll have annual limits on the amount you can spend each year for different health categories. If dental is important to you, make sure there's a high limit.
- Waiting periods. Waiting periods mean you won't be able to claim for a set period after buying your policy. They vary between extras policies, so look for shorter waiting periods where you can.
- Cost. Cost shouldn't be your only consideration but it is an important one. Don't choose a policy that will over-stretch you. The most expensive isn't necessarily the best.
- Gap Cover. Look for policies which offer gap cover. This means you're less likely to have huge out of pocket expenses for healthcare treatments.
- Rebates. Check to see if your policy entitles you to government rebates. This could bring down the cost of your policy when it comes to tax time.
- Discounts. Most funds offer sign-up deals for new customers. Keep an eye on these as it could reduce the overall cost of your policy or provide a decent incentive.
- Flexibility. See if your insurer will let you pause premiums or set up a payment plan if you hit financial hardship. You never know what's going to happen
Tips for getting the best health insurance for singles
While I'd love to point you to the best health insurance for singles, the truth is there's no one-size-fits-all option. Everyone's health needs are unique, and your ideal policy will depend on your individual circumstances.
The good news is, finding the best health insurance as a single person follows the same principles as finding the right policy in general. Start by taking the Finder quiz to get a tailored list of policies that cover what you need, without the stuff you don't. Then, compare options from funds that offer great value for money.
If you're looking for specific suggestions, check out this year's health insurance award winners. We recognise top policies across all tiers of hospital cover - basic, bronze, silver and gold - as well as basic, medium and comprehensive extras cover.
Lastly, keep in mind that the best health insurance for you will change over time. You might only need basic cover now to avoid a tax impact, but in a couple of years you might want something more comprehensive. It's better to think a few years ahead if you can, and you should try to make a habit of comparing your coverage every 12 months or so.
- Think about your needs. Do you need high-level cover or just the bare basics? Do you want pregnancy cover or anything that will exempt you from the Medicare Levy surcharge? Figure out what you really want before jumping in.
- Shop around. Don't just choose a policy because it's the one your mum or best friend is on. Different health funds charge different prices. Compare online and you could find a better deal.
- Mix and match. You don't have to get hospital and extras from the same fund. Splitting them up might take a little more time but you could create a package that's more customised to you.
- Look for deals. Lots of funds offer sign-up deals to new customers. This could score you a reduction on your premium, a few weeks' free cover, or a decent gift card.
- Read the PDS. There'll be terms and conditions in there that you should know. We know it's boring, but it's worth it. Plus, insurers have gotten better at writing them in consumer-friendly ways.
- Don't be afraid to ask. If there's anything you're unsure of, get in touch with the health fund and ask. Most funds have Australian-based help centres or online chat systems where you can find an answer quickly.
3 types of health insurance for singles
Best health insurance for singles looking to get pregnant
For childbirth in a private hospital, you'll need a gold level hospital policy. You'll need it for at least 12 months before you can claim for childbirth, or for fertility treatments such as IVF.
Pregnancy health insurance is also found in higher level extras policies. They may include benefits for pre- and post-natal healthcare, such as birthing classes or lactation consultants.
Best health insurance for single parents
Unfortunately, kids won't be covered under a single's policy. Instead, you have to look for a single parent health insurance policy.
Single parent policies will generally cost a little more than a comparable singles policy, but only for your first child. There's no additional cost for extras children. The overall cost will also be less than a comparable family health insurance policy.
Singles health insurance for couples
While couples health insurance policies are available to purchase, they don't always offer the best value. You can generally save money by getting two separate singles policies instead, so that you don't pay for cover you don't need. For example, most men don't need cover for pregnancy, which you would be paying for with a couples policy.
If you have kids, you're probably better off getting a family policy. Your children will generally be covered for free this way.
Cheapest health insurance for singles
While the cheapest of its class, a Basic health insurance policy offers very little value for the price. It will help you avoid the Medicare Levy surcharge, but you may have to pay high out of pocket costs whenever you do need real medical care. On the other hand, a bronze policy covers will cover a wide range of common hospital treatments at an affordable price and is a great entry point for new private health customers.
The cheapest Basic hospital policy you'll find will be around $77.50 per month, while Bronze policies start at roughly $86.34 per month.
Want to know more about cheap health insurance? Check out our page on budget cover.
Sign-up deals for singles health insurance
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