Health insurance regulations mean top-level cover has increasingly become unaffordable for many Australians. That’s the finding in an Actuaries Digital article, which suggests that the 4 tiers – Basic, Bronze, Silver and Gold – should be restructured. The number of Australians with Gold tier policies has dropped from 95% in 2005 to just 30% in 2026, due to younger claimers being concentrated on expensive Gold policies. This means many people do not have access to services such as private maternity cover, assisted reproductive services...
Australians with health cover are paying larger out-of-pocket costs for private treatment than ever, new data shows. The average Gap for private hospital treatment has climbed to $511.02 – an increase of 8.4% from the previous quarter, according to the latest statistics from government regulator APRA (the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority). Average Gaps for Extras Cover have increased to $65.02 – a 3.4% rise. Orthopaedic procedures remain the most expensive when it comes to out-of-pocket costs, with...
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...
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If you’re looking for a permanent form of male contraception, vasectomy is one option to consider. A vasectomy is a surgical procedure which involves cutting the tube connecting the testes with the penis. Here’s how much a vasectomy costs, and whether you can use health insurance to cover the procedure. How much does a vasectomy...
If you’re living with your partner, you might consider joining your health cover into one policy. But while a Couples policy might simplify your household expenses, it won’t save you any money. In fact, having separate Singles policies might work out cheaper. Here’s why…. Is Couples health insurance cheaper than Singles? No. One health insurance...
When your parent, or parents, need additional care to stay well, your family will face a lot of decisions. Amid these changes, you might be wondering about private health insurance for elderly parents – whether it’s needed, and where to find the right policy. Here are the answers to the most common questions about choosing...
If you find wearing glasses or contact lenses annoying or impractical, laser eye surgery might seem like the right decision for you. According to Optometry Australia, around two-thirds of Australians wear prescription glasses and 13% wear contact lenses. If you’re among that number and your optometrist has suggested laser surgery, there’s lots to weigh up...
Health insurers are always keen to attract new members, especially when the annual 1 April price increases are announced. You might have seen ads promoting waiting periods being waived, a certain amount of membership weeks for free, or even gift products like retailer gift cards. But are these health insurance promotions and deals worth it,...
When you’re claiming private hospital treatment on Hospital Cover, you probably assume all your costs will be covered – so it can be a bit of a shock to learn you might have to pay a Gap (out-of-pocket costs). Fortunately, health insurance Gap cover schemes – offered by many insurers – can help you reduce or eliminate out-of-pocket costs. Here’s how they work. Why do Gaps exist? Gaps happen when doctors charge more than the Medicare Benefits...
If you’ve been told you’ll need surgery in the near future and you have private health insurance, you might be wondering whether it’s better to go to a public or private hospital. In 2023-24, around 67% of elective surgeries in Australia were done in private hospitals. While being treated in a public hospital is free under Medicare, there may be long waits to be seen by a specialist and then to have your surgery – and you can’t choose...
It’s a question we’re asked often at healthslips.com.au: what’s the cheapest health insurer in Australia? There is no definitive answer because everyone’s health and insurance needs are different. But if you’re trying to save money on health insurance, here are some tips to help you find the most affordable insurer for your unique needs. 1....