The number of Australians paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge at tax time continues to rise. New data from the Australian Tax Office shows the number of people who paid the Surcharge jumped from 768,537 in 2022-23, to 885,087 in 2023-24 – a 15% increase. The Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) applies to people who earn above the ATO income threshold and do not have Hospital Cover covering all members of their household. The thresholds...
Health insurance regulations mean top-level cover has increasingly become unaffordable for many Australians. That’s the finding in an Actuaries Digital article, which suggests that the 4 tiers – Basic, Bronze, Silver and Gold – should be restructured. The number of Australians with Gold tier policies has dropped from 95% in 2005 to just 30% in 2026, due to younger claimers being concentrated on expensive Gold policies. This means many people do not have access to services such as private maternity cover, assisted reproductive services...
Australians with health cover are paying larger out-of-pocket costs for private treatment than ever, new data shows. The average Gap for private hospital treatment has climbed to $511.02 – an increase of 8.4% from the previous quarter, according to the latest statistics from government regulator APRA (the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority). Average Gaps for Extras Cover have increased to $65.02 – a 3.4% rise. Orthopaedic procedures remain the most expensive when it comes to out-of-pocket costs, with...
The cost of raising children continues to rise, with policies for families among the hardest hit in the latest health insurance premium increases.Analysis by health insurance comparison site healthslips.com.au found increases to Family and Single Parent policies have risen higher than policies that don’t include children.The government announced health insurance premiums would rise by an...
Senior Australians are facing a double whammy of health insurance cost rises, putting extra pressure on wallets during the cost-of-living crisis. Changes to the Private Health Insurance Rebate, coupled with high premium increases to policies that meet health needs of people over 65, mean senior Australians will be hit doubly hard by new health insurance changes. Currently the Private Health Insurance Rebate reduces premiums for people on low incomes by up to 24.288%, with reductions...
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...
Out-of-pocket fees for Australians with health insurance have risen, new data shows. Statistics from health insurance industry regulator APRA reveal average Gaps for hospital treatment rose by 7.7% in 2025, from an average of $437.61 to $471.29. Gaps for Extras Cover claims were up 5.6% from an average $59.53 to $62.87. Despite the increased Gaps and the cost-of-living crisis, Australians are holding onto their health insurance policies. There was no change to...
The government has approved a 4.41% average health insurance premium rise for 2026 – the highest increase in 9 years. Every year, health insurers must apply to the Minister for Health and Ageing to raise premiums. Last year’s average increase was 3.73%, while the 2017 average was 4.84%. Policyholders will be advised of their premium change over the coming weeks, with new premiums effective from 1 April. The Private Health Insurance Rebate will also be reduced from 1 April...
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You can use our healthslips.com.au calculator to calculate your Age-based Discount.To get an accurate result, you will need to answer the following questions:
No. Insurers do not have to offer the Age-based Discount to their customers because the Australian government has made it optional for insurers to offer it.If an insurer offers the Age-based Discount on a policy, they must offer the Discount to all eligible holders of that policy, including existing and new policy holders.If you change...
Dependants cannot claim the Age-based Discount.This means that, if you are 18-29 years old and covered as a dependant on a family or single parent Hospital Cover policy, you cannot claim the Age-based Discount. You must have your own policy to be eligible for the Age-based Discount.
The Age-based Discount is calculated at 2% for each year you are under 30 and hold Hospital Cover up to a maximum of 10% for people aged 18-25. Age when you take out Hospital Cover Discount 18-25 10% 26 8% 27 6% 28 4% 29 2% 30 0% The Age-based Discount lasts until you are...
The Age-based Discount is a discount on the cost of Hospital Cover to encourage people under the age of 30 to take out Hospital Cover and maintain it.If you are under 30 and your insurer offers it, you can save up to 10% on the cost of your Hospital Cover each year until you turn...
In this Guide, we explain the Age-based Discount, which is one way the Australian government encourages younger people to take out private health insurance.If you are under 30 and your insurer offers the Age-based Discount, you can reduce the cost of your Hospital Cover.Depending on your age, you could receive a discount of up to...