To help you find a cheap policy, our health insurance team has analysed hundreds of policies from over 40 funds, as well as the latest Ombudsman report. We've narrowed it down to a handful of the cheapest and most comprehensive policies in the Australian market.
HBF Basic Hospital Plus Elevate is good if you want a cheap policy that gives you more for your money, which is why it won the 2024 Finder Award.
Hospital Treatments
Blood Bone joint and muscle Cancer Dental surgery Digestive system Ear nose and throat Gastrointestinal endoscopy Gynaecology Hernia and appendix Joint reconstructions Kidney and bladder Male reproductive system Miscarriage and termination of pregnancy Skin Tonsils adenoids and grommets
Extras Treatments
Extra treatments not covered
HBF won the Finder 2024 Health Insurer of the Year award because it offers better value than any other fund we researched. That means it's one of the cheapest providers on the market but you get more in return for your money. With Basic Hospital Plus for example, it covers 15 treatments including dental surgery, gynaecology, hernia and appendix, joint reconstructions and tonsils, adenoids and grommets. That's 15 more than is required for a basic policy. You're also covered for accidents, ambulances and you get your own private room.
HBF Basic Plus Elevate is within $4 of the cheapest policy available on Finder and lets you avoid the Medicare levy surcharge (MLS).
It's a not-for-profit, meaning money makes goes back to its members. This is one of the reasons it offers such cheap premiums compared to other insurers. Plus, you get access to discounts on movies, fitness, clothes and more.
HBF Basic Plus Elevate isn't the cheapest HBF policy. That's HBF's Basic Hospital Plus plan which only covers 5 treatments but is around $2 less per week.
We selected HBF's Basic Hospital Plus Elevate because it won the 2024 Finder Award for Basic Hospital cover. These awards compared all eligible basic hospital policies on the market. HBF won based on value for money, meaning policies that covered more treatments in a private hospital for a lower premium scored higher.
To be eligible for Finder Awards, policies needed to be available to purchase from a non-restricted provider with at least a 0.5% national market share.
Average prices are updated monthly when we update Finder's database of health insurance policies. Prices are based on a single individual with less than $97,000 income, $750 excess and living in Sydney.
ahm starter bronze and black 50 saver is good if you want a cheap combined hospital and extras policy. It covers 18 treatments more than a typical basic policy.
Hospital Treatments
Bone joint and muscle Brain and nervous system Breast surgery Cancer Diabetes management Digestive system Ear nose and throat Eye excluding cataracts Gastrointestinal endoscopy Gynaecology Hernia and appendix Joint reconstructions Kidney and bladder Male reproductive system Miscarriage and termination of pregnancy Pain management Skin Tonsils adenoids and grommets
It covers the essential extras services including dental, physio, chiro and emergency ambulance (which isn't free in all states). You can also get some free trips to the dentist. It comes with no gap dental check-ups at specific dentists.
With this combined policy, you exempt yourself from the MLS, if you earn over $97,000 a year as a single or $194,000 as a couple (including super and fringe benefits).
This is not the cheapest combined option. Some basic combined policies will cost you less. However, they typically cover very little. For example, Frank Freedom Starter Flexi-Bundle (Basic) is a few dollars a month cheaper. However, the hospital portion covers accidents and emergency ambulance. That's it.
If you need cover for different treatments, you may want to look at bronze+ or silver cover. A bronze policy is required to cover just 18 treatments.
We selected ahm starter bronze + black 50 saver because it was the joint cheapest combined policy in our database of 900+ policies. The other similarly-priced combined option was also ahm – specifically, the starter bronze + choosable 50 teeth option. We selected this ahm policy because it covers more extras services.
Prices are based on a single individual with less than $97,000 income, $750 excess and living in Sydney.
2024 Finder Award winner for bronze cover. Scores are determined by policies that cover the most treatments for the cheapest price. We looked at 100+ bronze plans in total. You're covered for 25 hospital treatments – 7 more than a standard bronze policy.
Hospital Treatments
Blood Bone joint and muscle Brain and nervous system Breast surgery Cancer Dental surgery Diabetes management Digestive system Ear nose and throat Eye excluding cataracts Gastrointestinal endoscopy Gynaecology Hernia and appendix Joint reconstructions Kidney and bladder Lung and chest Male reproductive system Miscarriage and termination of pregnancy Pain management Palliative care Medically necessary plastic surgery Podiatric surgery Skin Sleep studies Tonsils adenoids and grommets
Extras Treatments
Extra treatments not covered
It's one of the cheapest bronze hospital insurance policies in our database of over 110 bronze plans.
You get more for your money. It covers 25 hospital treatments. No other bronze policy for that price covers this much.
Phoenix Health Bronze is also around the same price. It only covers 18 treatments though.
It has a higher percentage of complaints compared to other large funds.
We looked at 110+ bronze plans on the Finder database (this includes almost every health insurance policy on the market). We selected HCF because it provided the best value for money, covering more treatments for a lower price than any other policy.
Prices are based on a single individual with less than $97,000 income, $750 excess and living in Sydney.
Bupa's Basic Accident Only Hospital policy is good if you're looking for a very cheap policy that lets you avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) – but it only covers accidents and ambulance fees.
Hospital Treatments
Hospital treatments not covered
Extras Treatments
Extra treatments not covered
Out of 72 basic policies, it's the joint cheapest hospital policy on Finder.
By buying this policy, you can avoid paying MLS if you earn over $97,000 a year as a single or $197,000 as a couple (this includes taxable income, super and fringe benefits).
It covers emergency ambulance and comes with an accident inclusion feature. If you have an accident, Bupa will cover you in a private hospital for treatments that are excluded or restricted on your cover.
Frank Accident Only (Basic) and Entry Hospital (Basic+) are similar in price. The latter covers more than Bupa. You get cover for joint reconstructions, dental surgery, hernia and appendix and gynaecology.
This policy doesn't cover you in a private hospital for most treatments.
We looked at 72 basic policies on the Finder database (this includes almost every health insurance policy on the market.) We selected Bupa Basic Accident because it was the joint cheapest basic hospital policy.
Frank also has a similar-priced policy. However, we selected Bupa because 91.1% of its hospital services have no gap services, according to the latest State of the Health Funds report. 86.7% of Frank's medical services have no gap.
Prices are based on a single individual with less than $97,000 income, $750 excess and living in Sydney.
Bone joint and muscle Brain and nervous system Breast surgery Cancer Diabetes management Digestive system Ear nose and throat Eye excluding cataracts Gastrointestinal endoscopy Gynaecology Hernia and appendix Joint reconstructions Kidney and bladder Male reproductive system Miscarriage and termination of pregnancy Pain management Skin Tonsils adenoids and grommets
Extras Treatments
General Dental Major Dental Endodontic Orthodontic Optical Physiotherapy Chiropractic Acupuncture Remedial Massage
nib Bronze Hospital and Dental Boost could be good for families that don't plan to have more kids – but want cover for common treatments families often need such as ears, tonsils and orthodontics. Keep in mind: this is the price for a single policy. A family policy will cost you more.
It's one of the cheapest hospital and extras insurance policies in our database to cover treatments families commonly need, such as ear, nose and throat, tonsils, adenoids and grommets, and orthodontics.
Your kids can stay on the policy up to the age of 31. This limit applies to non-student dependants.
It covers 18 hospital treatments and 9 extras services including dental, orthodontic and optical.
Every family's needs are slightly different. If you don't need some of these treatments, it may be possible to find a cheaper policy.
This policy isn't for families planning to have more children. For that, you will need pregnancy cover.
We selected nib's policy because it was one of the cheapest combined policies in our database to cover ear, nose and throat, tonsils, adenoids and grommets, and orthodontics.
There were other similarly-priced options from ahm and Frank. However, nib can cover non-student dependants up to 31 years of age. Frank does not. Its limit is 21.
We also selected nib over ahm because nib has a higher percentage of medical services with no gap: 91.7% vs 83.8%.
Prices are based on a single individual with less than $97,000 income, $750 excess and living in Sydney.
How much does health insurance cost?
The cost of private health insurance varies pretty wildly. You can find extras cover from just a few dollars a week, while basic hospital policies will cost you from around $20 per week. However, if you've got more complex health needs, you'll need to go up to a more expensive policy.
The price also rises every year. In 2024 the prices went up 3.03%. This is actually less than the overall cost in insurance, which is around 8%, according to PocketSmith.
That's all very abstract - what are real Aussies paying for health insurance? Well, we ask hundreds of Australians that question every month in the Finder consumer sentiment tracker. Here's what their bill looked like in April 2025.
Extras only: $74
Basic Hospital: $112
Bronze Hospital: $133
Silver Hospital: $197
Gold Hospital: $227
Price based on 500+ responses for single hospital or extras insurance.
Cheap health insurance for tax
One of the big reasons Aussies take out health insurance is to avoid the financial impact of not having it. The government tries to strong arm you into getting private cover in a couple of ways, but there are 2 big ones.
Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS): This is an extra tax that you'll pay if you're a high earner that doesn't have hospital cover. Currently the income threshold is $97,000 for singles or $194,000 for couples or families. Mind, this threshold includes super, so you'll likely cross it with a taxable income of around $88,000. The actual tax is between 1 and 1.5% of your total income.
Lifetime Health Cover loading (LHC): This kicks in from the tax year you turn 31. For every year after age 30 that you don't have hospital cover, a 2% loading will be added to the cost of health insurance when you eventually get it. For example, if you wait until age 40 to get cover, you'll pay an extra 20% on the base cost. If you wait until 50, you'll pay an extra 40%!
Avoiding the MLS and LHC with cheap hospital cover
The good news is that you are exempt from both of these extra costs if you take out even a cheap hospital insurance policy. Even a basic or bronze policy is enough - just not extras only. I generally recommend at least a bronze tier policy because it covers way more treatments for just a little bit extra, but you can pick what works best for you.
When is cheap health insurance worth it?
Whether health insurance is worth it is going to be different for everyone. However, there are a couple of reasons you might take out cheap health insurance, where it's definitely still worth considering.
To avoid tax impacts: We outlined these earlier in this article. Not having health insurance can make a big impact on your finances, but a cheap hospital policy can protect you.
For basic extras cover: If you just want cover for basic extras like dental, optical and physiotherapy, a cheap extras plan is just the ticket.
To cover some common treatments: If you don't reckon you need a super comprehensive policy, but you want private cover for some common treatments, you should at least have a look at some cheap bronze tier policies.
Basic vs bronze policies
It's important to know the difference between basic and bronze tier hospital policies. Basic policies are really bare bones. They often don't have any treatments fully covered, so you should consider them the same as not being covered. If you need a cheap policy, we'd recommend at least considering bronze policies. They only cost a little bit more, but offer way more actual coverage.
How can I find cheaper health insurance?
No matter what your budget, these are some universal tips that could help you get more bang for your buck.
Check your coverage. If you already have health insurance and are looking for a cheaper option, consider downgrading your policy. You may be paying for benefits you don't need.
Compare online. Finder compares almost every major health insurance policy on the market. Comparing your options side-by-side gives you a good idea of how much you can expect to pay for a policy.
Look for discounts. Lots of health funds run offers to attract new customers. This could be a reduced-price premium, free coverage for a few weeks or some other reward.
Pay before 1 April. Prices go up on 1 April every year. Pay in advance before this date and you'll lock in last year's rates for a while longer.
Increase your excess. Choosing a higher excess will lower your premium. Just remember, if you're looking to avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge or Lifetime Health Cover loading, make sure the excess is no higher than $750 for a single person.
Look for a restricted fund. Restricted health funds offer cover to people working in specific industries as well as their families. These funds aren't run for profit, so they can be cheaper, but you have to find one that you're eligible for.
Check if your employer partners with a health fund. Health funds are allowed to give discounts of up to 12% to companies, which those companies can then pass on to employees.
"Last year my first son was born, so getting affordable health insurance with flexible extras became more than just a tax-related priority. Having lived in Australia for only 2 years, I didn't know much about health providers. Finder's selection of best insurance gave me the confidence to check HBF. HBF's Bronze Hospital Plus with Flex 50 extras had everything I was looking for!"
Franco Fagioli
New parent, NSW
Frequently asked questions
Basic plans are typically the cheapest hospital insurance policies you can get in Australia. They start from around $20 per week. Extras insurance is different. That only covers out of hospital treatments.
The cheapest hospital insurance policy in Australia is around $80 per month in most states. However, the price changes depending on the level of cover you get (basic, bronze, silver and gold) and if you add on extras cover.
The cheapest health insurance policies are available in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. A policy in those states costs as little as $60 and $30 per month, respectively. It's around $80 per month for the same policies in all other Australian states and territories.
Not everyone needs health insurance. As long as you're entitled to Medicare, you'll be covered for free treatment in a public hospital if you're injured, fall ill or develop a medical condition in Australia.
For many people, relying on Medicare is the cheapest option, but there are benefits to having private health insurance, and it can even save some people money.
For example, if you earn over $97,000 a year, or $194,000 a year as a couple (including super and fringe benefits), you're hit with an extra tax unless you have hospital insurance. You can buy cover for less than the cost of the tax penalty, so it makes financial sense to get cover, even if you don't want it.
Certain extras policies can also save you money if you regularly spend cash on non-hospital healthcare, such as prescription glasses, dental check-ups or even remedial massage. That's because you can easily claim back more than you pay in premiums over the course of the year.
Remember though, private health insurance doesn't mean you'll get treatment for free. Whether it's a hospital or extras policy, you'll usually have some out-of-pocket costs. The exceptions are no-gap dental and no-gap optical, which are only offered by some health funds.
It's possible that the best way to get a cheaper health insurance policy is to switch to another provider. Switching health insurance is surprisingly easy, with all the hard work done for you, in the background.
No, 2 individual policies are the same price as a couples policy with the same level of coverage. In fact, buying couples health insurance may actually end up being more expensive than if you'd bought separate health insurance policies.
That's because, in a couples policy, both members have to be on the same plan. So if one person wants top tier coverage, the other person has to get it too. If you and your partner want different levels of coverage, it's worth looking into individual policies instead. This is especially useful for health insurance for young adults, where only one of you may need health insurance for pregnancy, which is more expensive.
You can avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) by holding any level of hospital cover that has an excess of $750 or less for singles, or $1,500 or less for couples and families. An extras policy does not count, it must be a hospital policy. The cheapest hospital options are typically basic cover policies. However, it can be worth looking at some bronze policies as they tend to cover a lot more and cost only a few dollars extra.
The cheapest type of health insurance in Australia is Basic Hospital Cover, which offers limited coverage for essential treatments. If you're looking for cover solely to avoid paying extra tax, this is the type of insurance policy to look for.
If you earn above $97,000 (individual) or $194,000 (family) annually, getting private health insurance can help you avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge. This is currently (as of 2024) between 1% and 1.5%, meaning if you earn $100,000, you'll pay an extra $1,000 in tax. At this point, it may be more affordable to take out a cheap health insurance policy to avoid paying this extra tax.
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Angus Kidman as part of our fact-checking process.
A seasoned journalist with over 10 years of experience in news, politics and finance reporting, Tim has previously held roles at the ABC, SBS and Fairfax Media. Tim’s expert insights have been quoted in The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, The Courier Mail and more. He regularly appears on TV and radio, and has been interviewed on 7 News, Sunrise, SBS News, ABC Local, 3AW and 5AA. Tim is passionate about simplifying complex insurance topics for Australian consumers. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Politics) from Macquarie University and a Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification, which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146).
If you’re interested in a media interview with Tim, please reach out to our PR team at aupr@finder.com. See full bio
Tim's expertise
Tim has written 152 Finder guides across topics including:
Take note of any waiting periods that apply with a policy, as you’ll need to serve these before you can make a claim on insurance.
Unfortunately, I can’t tell you which is the ‘best’ policy as the right health insurance for you will depend on your own needs and circumstances.
When you’re ready, you can click the ‘Go to Site button’ of your preferred insurer to learn more about them and to apply for a policy.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
James
SueFebruary 9, 2017
Can I claim gym membership with extras only cover?
Finder
RichardFebruary 10, 2017Finder
Hi Sue,
Thanks for getting in touch.
Some funds will provide you with discounted gym memberships but it will depend on your policy. For more information, please head over to our article discussing health insurance and gym memberships. You should be able to find what you may be able to claim from each fund.
If in case you are still going to compare policies, please make sure you read the terms and conditions of the policy to learn more and know if it is the right policy for you or not.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out again.
Get affordable cover for ambulance transport if you are not already covered under Medicare. Compare quotes from Australian funds to decide which level of protection is best for you.
There are a number of reasons why taking out private health cover now rather than later can be a smart thing for singles to do.
Important information about this website
Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own.
Finder is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stand by our editorial principles.
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labeling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
We make money by featuring products on our site. Compensation received from the providers featured on our site can influence which products we write about as well as where and how products appear on our page, but the order or placement of these products does not influence our assessment or opinions of them, nor is it an endorsement or recommendation for them.
Products marked as 'Top Pick', 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Looking for an insurance to cover cancer, colonoscopy as a private patient
Hi Brett, Check out our detailed guide to cancer and health insurance for more on this topic.
In simple terms, what is for a pensioner couple the best senior health insurance for hospital and extra’s, incl cataracts , hip replacements ? Thanks
Hi Matilda,
Most Silver and Gold policies offer insurance for both hospital and extras, and many include cover for cataracts and joint replacements.
You can use our guide to Seniors Health Insurance to review your options in more detail.
Take note of any waiting periods that apply with a policy, as you’ll need to serve these before you can make a claim on insurance.
Unfortunately, I can’t tell you which is the ‘best’ policy as the right health insurance for you will depend on your own needs and circumstances.
When you’re ready, you can click the ‘Go to Site button’ of your preferred insurer to learn more about them and to apply for a policy.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
James
Can I claim gym membership with extras only cover?
Hi Sue,
Thanks for getting in touch.
Some funds will provide you with discounted gym memberships but it will depend on your policy. For more information, please head over to our article discussing health insurance and gym memberships. You should be able to find what you may be able to claim from each fund.
If in case you are still going to compare policies, please make sure you read the terms and conditions of the policy to learn more and know if it is the right policy for you or not.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Richard