What’s the best health insurance for singles in Australia? 

If you’re taking out a health insurance policy for yourself only, or reviewing your existing policy because your health needs and budget may have changed, here’s what you need to consider to find the best cover for singles in Australia. 

Do I need health insurance for myself? 

The main benefit of private health insurance for one adult is that you can tailor the policy to your own needs. As well as getting the overall private health insurance benefits of being able to avoid waiting lists for public hospital procedures and avoiding the Medicare Levy Surcharge, with a singles policy you’re only paying for cover that you’ll use. That means you can tailor your policy to meet your needs, and save a lot of money in the process – especially if you use the healthslips.com.au calculator. In fact, we found that using our calculator to switch from the most expensive to the cheapest singles Silver tier Combined Hospital and Extras policy in New South Wales could save you around $4,211.40 a year. 

You don’t have to be single to take out a singles health insurance policy. In fact, if you’re in a relationship with someone who has different health needs to you, it might be cheaper to have 2 separate policies – one lower tier policy, and one higher tier – than having a joint policy at a higher price.   

For example, John has diabetes so he needs cover for Insulin Pumps and Diabetes Management, but his wife Beth doesn’t need these. John takes out a Gold tier policy while Beth gets a Basic tier policy for herself.  

What are the different tiers of health insurance and what do they cover?

Do young singles really need health insurance? 

If you’re young and single, health insurance might not be top of mind, but it could pay off. Having health insurance means that if an unforeseen event happens and you need more extensive healthcare than what Medicare covers, you’ll be able to skip waiting lists and get treatment in a private hospital. Private health insurance also means you’re more likely to have a private hospital room and your choice of doctors.  

The other big reason for getting health insurance if you’re young and single is financial. The Age-based Discount, which applies to anyone aged 18 to 29 who takes out Hospital Cover and maintains it, ensures you’ll be paying cheaper premiums until you’re 41, as long as you maintain health insurance coverage.  

Taking out a policy now will also help you avoid the Lifetime Health Cover Loading. Getting private health insurance after the age of 31 means you will pay an extra percentage, called Loading, on top of the premiums because you took out cover later in life. And while 31 might not feel ‘later in life’, in terms of health insurance, it makes a big difference. 

How do I choose the best health insurance for singles in Australia? 

Finding the right private health insurance policy as a single person comes down to weighing up your age, health needs, lifestyle and income. Here are some factors to consider: 

• What are your current health cover needs? 

• Do you have any pre-existing health conditions? 

• What is your budget? 

• Is your annual income higher than $105,000? If so, you’ll need to get Hospital Cover with an excess of $750 or less, to avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge 

• Are you likely to have greater health needs in the near future, such as birth care or rehabilitation from injuries? 

• Do you need Extras Cover, for out-of-hospital health services such as dental, optical or physiotherapy?  

• Do you need Ambulance Cover, or is ambulance treatment provided free in your state or territory? (Find out here.) 

Once you’ve got a good picture of your budget and needs, it’s time to search for the right policy. At healthslips.com.au, our calculator is the only one that allows you to compare every policy from every Australian health insurer to find the best value cover. You don’t need to enter personal details like your email address or phone number. As you can see from the table below, our calculator could save you thousands. 

SINGLE POLICY PRICE COMPARISONS 

Combined Hospital and Extras Cover in NSW, excess up to $750, including open and restricted insurers 

See how easy it is to change insurers and remember you won’t have to serve any waiting periods again if you’re staying at the same level of cover. 

With the healthslips.com.au calculator, you can compare your existing policy against policies for singles, couples or for your entire household (including the kids). You can also compare different levels of cover, such as Gold vs Silver Hospital Cover. It’s the simplest, most accurate way to make a true comparison of health insurance policies out there and find the best fit for you, at the best price.  

Compare your health insurance policy with others on the market, or find a new policy. 

What if my circumstances change? 

If you’ve started a relationship and need to change to a policy for 2 adults, or you’ve started a family and need to upgrade to a policy that includes children, try our calculator to find the best deal on health insurance. You can compare your existing policy against a Couples policy and a Family policy. You can compare different levels of cover, too, such as Gold vs Silver vs Bronze vs Basic. In a nutshell, our calculator is designed to help you make a true comparison of the market to make a fully informed decision. 

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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