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...
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...
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...
Specialist fees for private hospital care in Australia have increased dramatically – in some cases, by as much as 9 times, new data shows. Figures from Private Healthcare Australia, the peak body for the health insurance industry, found that average out-of-pocket fees charged for treating private patients have surged by staggering amounts between 2018-19 and...
The Minister of Health has warned health insurers to focus on providing value to customers when they apply to increase their premiums over the next few weeks. Private health insurers are allowed to raise premiums once a year only, subject to government approval. Insurer applications for 2026 premium increases are due in November, with approved...
Some ACT residents are being hit with shock bills for public hospital treatment, new figures show. Following news this week that health insurance premiums for ACT residents may rise by at least $180 next year, an analysis of billing records has revealed the high Gaps being paid for Canberra hospital treatment. Data from Private Healthcare...
With public hospitals under strain, health insurers are paying out greater sums for private patient treatment, new data shows. Quarterly health insurance statistics released by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, which regulates the industry, showed a significant increase in the amount paid for Hospital Cover claims in the June 2025 quarter. Health insurers paid $4.98...
New data from the Australian Tax Office shows that the number of people being charged the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) has almost quadrupled over 6 years. Data found 768,537 Aussies paid the MLS in the 2022-23 financial year, up from 196,807 in 2017. An article in The Australian says the increase is due to rising...
CEO and Founder
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Technical Officer
Writer and Researcher
UX/UI Designer
Brand and Graphic Designer
Led by Chris Payne
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…
If you’ve got Extras Cover, you might be covered for the cost of vaccinations, but the type of shots you can claim and the…
If you’re looking for a new Hospital Cover policy or upgrading your current policy, you’ll need to decide what private health insurance tier you need. There are 4 tiers of Hospital Cover: Here are the…
If you’ve found yourself googling ‘How much do dentures cost?’, you’ll know that dentures in Australia are not cheap. Fortunately, you can use health…
Waiting for hernia surgery can be a long, and potentially painful, process. The latest data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows…
There are literally thousands of health insurance policies available in Australia (64,252 open policies as at 2 December 2025, to be exact). So if you think your health cover isn’t quite hitting…
If you’re likely to need surgery this year, you could be in for a long wait. Although your surgery will be free under Medicare in…
If you wear glasses or use contact lenses, you’ll know Extras Cover can be a handy way to bring down…
Compare all Australian health insurers and every policy
Compare using independent and comprehensive information
Compare all Private Health Information Statements, cheapest to most expensive
Compare without entering your name, email or phone number