The cost of raising children continues to rise, with policies for families among the hardest hit in the latest health insurance premium increases.Analysis by health insurance comparison site healthslips.com.au found increases to Family and Single Parent policies have risen higher than policies that don’t include children.The government announced health insurance premiums would rise by an...
Senior Australians are facing a double whammy of health insurance cost rises, putting extra pressure on wallets during the cost-of-living crisis. Changes to the Private Health Insurance Rebate, coupled with high premium increases to policies that meet health needs of people over 65, mean senior Australians will be hit doubly hard by new health insurance changes. Currently the Private Health Insurance Rebate reduces premiums for people on low incomes by up to 24.288%, with reductions...
Health insurance premiums will increase by an average of 4.41% on 1 April, but some Australians are already experiencing bill shock after finding their policies will increase by as much as 10.74%. In the past few weeks policyholders have been notified by health insurers about their premium rises on 1 April 2026 and in some cases, the increases are significantly higher than 4.41%. Analysis by health insurance comparison...
Out-of-pocket fees for Australians with health insurance have risen, new data shows. Statistics from health insurance industry regulator APRA reveal average Gaps for hospital treatment rose by 7.7% in 2025, from an average of $437.61 to $471.29. Gaps for Extras Cover claims were up 5.6% from an average $59.53 to $62.87. Despite the increased Gaps and the cost-of-living crisis, Australians are holding onto their health insurance policies. There was no change to...
The government has approved a 4.41% average health insurance premium rise for 2026 – the highest increase in 9 years. Every year, health insurers must apply to the Minister for Health and Ageing to raise premiums. Last year’s average increase was 3.73%, while the 2017 average was 4.84%. Policyholders will be advised of their premium change over the coming weeks, with new premiums effective from 1 April. The Private Health Insurance Rebate will also be reduced from 1 April...
Increased out-of-pocket costs for specialists are leading many Australians to delay or cancel specialist care, a recent study has found. A survey of 4,000 people by Private Healthcare Australia – peak body for the health insurance industry – found that 55% of people received a higher specialist bill than expected in the past 3 years, and almost one in 3 people had delayed or cancelled specialist care due to costs. The survey – which included 2,300 people...
The Australian Medical Association (AMA), an advocacy group for doctors, says private health insurance no longer provides value for money, and wants the government to overhaul the industry. The association’s annual Private Health Insurance Report Card, released today, found premium prices had doubled over the past 16 years, outstripping health inflation.“Australians are paying more for their...
Increased claim costs are putting health insurers under pressure, new data shows. The latest figures from industry regulator, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), show $5.2 million was paid for hospital treatment claims in the September 2025 quarter – an 8.0% increase compared with the same quarter last year and much higher than the growth in...
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Like any aspect of life that’s complicated, health insurance is an area that’s shrouded in myths and misconceptions. Since some of those misconceptions could be costing you money, we at healthslips.com.au – your health insurance experts – are here to sort fact from fiction. To help you get health insurance savvy, here are some of the...
If you, or someone you love, is living with arthritis, you’re far from alone. Arthritis is the third most common chronic condition in Australia, according to the ABS, and reportedly affects 3.7 million of us. Arthritis is a term encompassing many different forms of conditions that affect the joints and cause inflammation, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis...
If you, or someone you love, has been diagnosed with cancer, we hope you have lots of support around you. The word ‘cancer’ is news that no one wants to hear, yet 452 Australians are diagnosed with this illness every day. You might be feeling a bit overwhelmed, so we’re here to give you the...
If you’ve ever had to call an ambulance and then received a bill a few days later, you’ll know all too well that ambulance treatment in Australia is not funded by Medicare. In 2 states, ambulance call-outs are funded by their state governments, but for most of Australia, calling an ambulance will set you back...
Maybe you’ve just finished studying or you’re moving out of home. Maybe you’ve entered your 30s or got married. Whatever your reasons for getting your own health insurance in your 20s instead of relying on your parents’ health cover, it’s a good feeling to be taking control of your finances and becoming independent. It can,...
If you have Private Health Insurance and you’re being admitted to hospital for a procedure or treatment, don’t assume your insurer will cover all your Hospital Cover costs. Whether you’re going in as a private patient in a private hospital, or a private patient in a public hospital, you may need to pay some costs...
Knee replacements are one of the most common elective surgeries in Australia, with around 53,000 performed a year for osteoarthritis. For those people, and those with knee injuries, knee replacement surgery can be life-changing, giving back mobility and flexibility… but they often have to wait several months for it.For that reason, having Hospital Cover that...
If you’re among the many Australians awaiting a hip replacement, you’re in good company. Around 35,500 total hip replacements are done every year in Australia, and for those who go through a public hospital, the average wait is around 175 days. That’s a long time to be in pain and having trouble walking – so...