What’s the best health insurance for endometriosis?

Around 14% of Australian women are living with endometriosis, a painful condition where tissue grows outside the uterus. There’s no cure for this debilitating condition, but there are treatments to relieve the symptoms – including surgical options. If you’re living with endometriosis and want the option of skipping long wait lists and having surgery in a private hospital, health insurance is worth considering. According to The Guardian, public wait lists for endometriosis surgery can be at least 12 months, and data from Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows more than two-thirds of endometriosis surgeries in 2023 were in private hospitals. Here we help you choose the best health insurance for endometriosis. 

Does health insurance cover endometriosis? 

Surgeries for endometriosis, including laparoscopy and hysterectomy, are covered under the Gynaecology clinical category of Hospital Cover, which applies to policies Bronze tier and higher.  

To claim on your policy, you’ll have to pay an excess and any out-of-pocket costs determined by your surgeon and other doctors who might be involved (such as anaesthetists). And if it’s a new policy, there will be a 12-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions before you can claim. 

What counts as a pre-existing condition? 

Do waiting periods apply if I change insurers? 

Remember, outpatient appointments aren’t covered by Hospital Cover, so you can’t claim for appointments with your gynaecologist to discuss treatments. You will, however, be able to claim a partial rebate for this from Medicare.  

If you have Extras Cover, you might also be able to claim for: 

• Medications – including the Pill (only if prescribed for endometriosis, not solely for contraception), hormone treatments and dienogest (sometimes prescribed to suppress the growth of abnormal tissue). Check your policy to see whether it includes Non-PBS Pharmaceuticals, which is usually only on mid to top-level Extras Cover policies.  

• Acupuncture – some women find acupuncture helpful for managing endometriosis. 

• Psychology – according to Jean Hailes for Women’s Health, cognitive behavioural therapy can be helpful for managing endometriosis. 

• Physiotherapy – Endometriosis Australia says pelvic health physiotherapists can help with pain associated with the condition. 

How much does health insurance for endometriosis cost? 

We used the healthslips.com.au to find the cheapest Hospital Cover policy that includes Gynaecology. As at April 2026, for one adult in Victoria: 

• Cheapest Bronze tier policy with Gynaecology: $127.93/month with a $750 excess. (Note: a co-payment of $50 also applies for each day of your hospital stay).  

• Most expensive Bronze Plus policy with Gynaecology: $174.20/month with a $750 excess.  

How do I find the best health insurance for endometriosis? 

To search every policy from every insurer in Australia in minutes, use the healthslips.com.au calculator. It’s fast, free and you can be anonymous. We don’t sell insurance so we show you all your options without commercial bias. You can use the calculator to search for a new policy or compare your current policy with other similar policies. Check the results to make sure the Gynaecology clinical category is included in the policies that meet your budget.  

healthslips.com.au does not provide general or personalised advice. Your particular circumstances are likely to impact the accuracy, completeness and relevance of the information or results. Take this into account before making a decision and talk to an expert for financial advice. 

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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