Hospital Cover benefits up 32.5%, new data shows

Benefits for Hospital Cover treatments are up, with new data showing a 32.5% increase for the June 2026 quarter compared to the March quarter.  

The latest data from government regulator APRA shows health insurers paid $5.3 billion in benefits for private hospital treatments, including accommodation, nursing and medical services.  

The report also found: 

• The age group with the highest Hospital Cover benefits paid was 75 to 79 year olds.  

• Benefits for Extras Cover were down by 3.1% for the quarter. 

• The number of Australians with private health insurance has increased slightly, despite cost-of-living pressures; 12.8 million people have Hospital Cover and 15.5 million have Extras Cover. 

Earlier this year, Dr Rachel David, CEO of Private Healthcare Australia (peak body for the industry), said that health insurance remained good value for money.  

“For every dollar spent on private health insurance, consumers receive an average of 85 cents back in healthcare benefits – the highest return of any type of insurance,” Dr David said. 

Read the full APRA report. 

Trudie McConnochie

Writer and Researcher

Knowledge is power – that’s the guiding principle behind everything Trudie writes, and it’s a philosophy she brings to her work at healthslips.com.au. By breaking down complex information into easy-to-understand blogs and stories, she aims to empower Australians to make the best choices and an informed decision around private health insurance.

Trudie understands firsthand some of the complexity of private health insurance having moved to Australia from New Zealand and having to navigate a vastly different public healthcare system and health insurance structure.

Trudie holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies (journalism major) from the Auckland University of Technology.

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