What’s the cheapest health insurer in Australia? 

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. Focus on policies, not insurers

When you’re looking for the cheapest health insurance, instead of focusing on insurer brand, focus on the policies and what they offer. There are thousands of health insurance policies available in Australia, and 46 insurer brands.  

Using the healthslips.com.au calculator, we found a massive variation in prices for policies that offered similar levels of cover. For example, for Gold tier Hospital Cover premiums for a single adult with no kids in NSW, we found a difference of $229.60 a month between the cheapest and most expensive policies, as of April 2026. That means you could end up paying $2,755.20 more a year for a policy that provides a similar level of cover as the cheaper one.

2. Look for not-for-profit insurers

Not-for-profit insurers are insurers that aren’t focused on shareholder profit and sometimes give members more back in claims than for-profit insurers. However they might not offer as much value for out-of-pocket costs with healthcare providers (such as dentists) as the larger insurers are able to offer. To save on premiums, it’s worth considering not-for-profit insurers when you look for health cover.

Are not-for-profit insurers cheaper?

3. Consider Restricted insurers

If you work in (or have retired from) an industry that has a relationship with a preferred health insurer, these Restricted insurers can offer good value to members. For example, in 2025 Police Health – which covers police staff and their families – paid back 94% of premiums in claims, which was the highest of any health insurer, APRA data shows.

Remember, Restricted insurers are often available to family members as well. For example if you don’t work in healthcare, but an uncle, aunt, parent or sibling does, you may be eligible for cover with Doctors’ Health. Check the list of Restricted insurers to see whether you might be eligible.

4. Compare your options

If you want to find the cheapest health insurer for your needs, instead of searching each insurer’s website – which would be time-consuming – use the healthslips.com.au calculator to search for policies that fit your requirements. We search every policy available in Australia with unbiased comparisons, and list the premiums from cheapest to most expensive. It’s fast, free and you can search anonymously. Search for a new policy or compare your current policy with others out there.

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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