Bill shock as massive premium increases hit 

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 website healthslips.com.au uncovered increases shockingly higher than the industry and insurer averages, including: 

• A NSW family with Bronze Plus tier Combined Hospital and Extras Cover hit with an increase of $36.74 a month – a rise of 10.74%.  

• A NSW family with Gold tier Combined Hospital and Extras Cover will pay an extra $53.13 a month – a rise of 10.03%.  

• A single Queensland adult’s Silver Plus tier Hospital Cover has increased by $12.62 a month – a jump of 7.90%. 

According to Department of Health data, health insurers with the highest average increases were AIA (5.98%), nib (5.47%) and Medibank (5.10%). At the lower end were GMHBA (1.98%) and HBF (2.15%). But these were averages, with individual policies rising much higher in some cases.  

What you can do 

If you have experienced bill shock due to your premium increase, you can lock in your current price by paying for the next 12 months in advance. If you cannot afford to do that, do not rush to switch to a cheaper policy. Instead, healthslips.com.au recommends waiting until after 1 April so you can compare the new premiums of every policy. Unlike other comparison sites, healthslips.com.au will allow you to compare the new premiums for every policy from every insurer in Australia, shown without commercial bias. 

Here are the 4 steps to find your cheapest policy after 1 April: 

1. Download the Private Health Information Statement attached to the premium-increase email from your insurer. This is a government-mandated document separate to the branded policy statement from your insurer.  

2. Find your Policy ID in the bottom left-hand corner of your Private Health Information Statement. Everything is explained and demonstrated here. 

3. Compare your existing policy using healthslips.com.au after 1 April to see your policy and other comparable policies side by side. Healthslips.com.au shows you the policy differences including what health services are covered and what each policy costs, so you can make an informed decision. 

4. Choose the policy at the best price based on your healthcare needs and your budget. 

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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