Singles Health Insurance

*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?

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 April 2025 (based on single hospital policies from all states, $750 excess, with no surcharges or rebate applied).

• Gold hospital policies had an average cost of $280.44 per month
• Silver hospital policies had an average cost of $62 per month
• Bronze hospital policies had an average cost of $103.94 per month
• Basic hospital policies had an average cost of $87.81 per month
• The average cost of an extras policy was $58.67 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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Updated regularly

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Name	Product
Get up to $1000 cashback Ends 01 May 2025 For new members who join by 1st May and maintain hospital and extras cover. T&Cs apply. Get deal Get deal		loading Fetching your data...
Want 6 weeks free and $500 in gift cards (couples/families) or $250 in gift cards (singles/single parents) when you join and maintain eligible Bronze Hospital+Extras cover or above? New members only. T&Cs apply. Excludes Basic covers. Get deal Get deal		loading Fetching your data...
Switch or join and earn up to 130,000 Qantas Points Ends 28 May 2025 Plus, get 60-75% back on Extras (up to your annual limit) for things like dental, physio and glasses costs. Points will be awarded based on your level of cover over 6 months. Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply. Get deal Get deal		loading Fetching your data...
Want 6 weeks free + a $50 gift card when you join & maintain eligible Extras? Plus, get 2&6 month waits waived. New members only. T&Cs apply. Excludes Healthy Living Extras. Get deal Get deal		loading Fetching your data...
Want 6 weeks free and $400 in gift cards (couples/families) or $200 in gift cards (singles/single parents) when you join and maintain eligible Bronze Hospital cover or above? New members only. T&Cs apply. Excludes Basic covers. Get deal Get deal		loading Fetching your data...
Join or switch and earn up to 150,000 Qantas Points Ends 09 May 2025 Offer ends 9 May. Points will be awarded based on your level of cover over 6 months. Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply. Get deal Get deal		loading Fetching your data...
Join directly on eligible cover & get up to 8 weeks free Ends 14 May 2025 T&Cs apply. New members only. Ends 14 May. 8 weeks free applied over 2 years (3 years for annual payers). Get deal Get deal		loading Fetching your data...
Get 10 weeks free Ends 30 April 2025 Join a combined Hospital + Extras policy online with nib by April 30. T&Cs apply. Get deal Get deal		loading Fetching your data...
Get 8 weeks free Ends 30 April 2025 Get 8 weeks free & instant access to Extras when you join Hospital & Extras By April 30. T&Cs Apply. Learn more. Get deal Get deal		loading Fetching your data...

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Frequently asked questions

• Does singles health insurance cover pre-existing conditions?

  All hospital policies have to cover pre-existing medical conditions after 12 months. You won't have to pay any more for your policy if you have a health condition either. In some cases, pre-existing medical conditions might only have a two-month waiting period. This is typically reserved for mental health conditions, rehabilitation, and palliative care.

• How long can I stay on my parents' policy?

  If you're in your twenties, you may still be covered by your parents' health insurance policy, so you won't need your own singles policy just yet.
  You can usually stay on your parents policy until you're between 21 and 25, depepending on your parents' health fund. If you're in full-time study, you might be able to stay on even longer. In fact, from April 1, 2021, dependent kids will be able to stay on their parents' policy until they turn 31 - as long as they're not in a de facto relationship.

• Is health insurance worth it for singles?

  In lots of cases, yes. For extras policies, it's really easy to get more value out of your policy than you'd spend in premiums all year. You just have to be proactive about claiming.
  With hospital insurance, you could actually save money by getting a policy. That's because if you're earning over $97,000 and don't have hospital cover, you're hit with the Medicare Levy Surcharge. That surcharge takes at least 1% of your salary or a minimum of $900 a year
  But it's possible to find a hospital policy which costs less than $900 a year. So you not only avoid the tax, you get cover too!

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
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• Health insurance
• General insurance
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Co-written by

Cameron Thach

Writer

With a background in writing across education, Web3, and finance, Cameron’s mission is to create content that speaks directly to readers in a way that’s easy to understand, helping them navigate complex topics with confidence. Cameron studied a Bachelor of Commerce, Economics and Marketing at Macquarie University, graduating in 2019. See full bio