Things to remember when comparing health insurance offers
While it's great to get a deal when signing up to a new health insurance policy, the most important thing is that you get the right cover for your needs. Don't be tempted to sign up with a provider or policy that isn't right for you just because it has a great discount. Here are a few key things to keep in mind when comparing health insurance offers.
Do's:
Make sure the policy you've picked is right for you and your needs.
Be sure that you can pay your premiums after any free period.
Remember to consider the ongoing member benefits of any health insurance brand that you're considering.
Do not's:
Don't buy a policy that doesn't suit your needs just because there's a great sign-up offer.
Make sure you check out the terms and conditions. For example, most sign-up offers require you to be a new customer to that provider.
Common types of health insurance sign-up deals
Health insurance sign-up deals change each month, but there are a few common types of offers you're likely to see.
Free cover period
One of the most common sign-up offers you'll see in health insurance is a number of weeks of free coverage. The amount of time is normally between 2 and 6 weeks. You'll sometimes need to be signed up for a minimum period of time (3 months, for example) before entering your free coverage period.
Waived waiting periods
Many providers will offer to waive some waiting periods on new policies, so that you can claim right away. This is especially common on extras policies. Most offers will waive 2 and 6 month waiting periods.
Bonus frequent flyer points
Health insurance providers associated with airline brands will offer bonus frequent flyer points for new sign-ups. To claim the full bonus you'll generally need to be on a high level of cover for a minimum number of months. Lower levels of cover will often give you a smaller number of points.
Health insurance member benefits
As well as sign-up deals, many health insurance brands all offer a range of ongoing member benefits and rewards, which you should be aware of. Here are some of the current health insurance offers available from Finder partners:
15% off laser eye surgery at Vision Eye Institute.
Save 10% on Medibank pet insurance.
Save 10% on Medibank life insurance and income protection.
15% off 12 and 18 month Platinum memberships at Fitness First.
15% off 12 and 18 month Platinum memberships at Goodlife Health Clubs.
Earn Live Better points when shopping with Specsavers.
Enjoy a range of benefits when shopping with OPSM.
Key offers:
Up to 12,000 Qantas Points with the Qantas Wellbeing App.
When shopping via Qantas Shopping:
7 Qantas Points per $1 spent on adidas products.
2 Qantas Points per $1 spent on rebel products.
4 Qantas Points per $1 on eligible Speedo gear.
7 Qantas Points per $1 spent at New Balance.
7 Qantas Points per $1 spent on Under Armour products.
1 Qantas Points per $1 spent on Apple products.
Key offers:
HCF Thank you membership program.
Up to 25% off travel insurance.
Up to 15% off pet insurance.
Discount on GP2U's standard rates.
Key offers:
$70 EFTPOS card every time you successfully refer a friend.
Key offers:
15% off nib travel insurance.
Access to nib Health Management Programs.
100% back on dental check-ups at nib Dental Care Centres.
4% off the price of health cover when paying by direct debit.
Discounts on a range of glasses, lenses and more.
Get up to 10% off any hospital covers if you're under 30.
Savings at Specsavers with discounts on a range of glasses and lens.
Key offers:
Redeem savings on everyday essentials.
Discounted e-gift cards from 100+ well known brands.
Enjoy great savings at 300 restaurants across Australia.
Access discounted cinema e-vouchers.
When you shop through Life Rewards.
Discounts on Bupa car, home, travel and pet insurance.
Key offers:
Wellness benefits.
Optical discounts.
Key offers:
Free AIA Vitality Health Check.
Quit smoking programs.
Nutrition consultations.
The AIA Vitality Apple Watch Benefit.
Up to 50% cash back on eligible domestic and international flights.
Spa benefit.
Up to 50% off movie vouchers.
Reduced premiums. Pay with direct debit and save 4% on your monthly premiums.
Table last updated April 2026.
Potential benefits of switching health insurance provider
Sign-up deals aren't just for people who are brand new to health insurance. Any of the current offers on this page are also available to people switching from one provider to another, so long as you're a new customer to the brand you're switching to. It's one of the three big benefits to switching health insurance providers regularly:
Sign-up deals
Health insurance sign-up deals are available to people switching providers, as long as you're a new customer to the fresh provider.
Quick and easy
Switching health insurance providers is easy - just sign up with the new provider. The new provider will sort it all out for you.
No extra waiting periods
Any waiting periods you've already served will transfer to your new provider, as long as the coverage level is the same.
How much does health insurance cost?
We ask hundreds of Australians what they're paying for health insurance every month. Here's what their bill looked like in February 2026.
Extras only: $53
Basic: $98
Bronze: $142
Silver: $176
Gold: $283
Price based on 400+ responses for single hospital or extras insurance.
Frequently asked questions
Aussie health insurance providers regularly offer deals for new customers, with perks like 4 weeks of free cover, a waiver on 2- and 6-month waiting periods, or bonus frequenty flyer points. These deals change each month, so check our up-to-date list to see what's available now.
Switching health insurance policies is generally an easy process, often handled by your new insurer. Once you sign up with your new insurer, they will contact your old insurer to cancel your policy and obtain a transfer certificate. When the paperwork is cleared, your new cover date will start with your new insurer.
Yes, health insurance deals can be used when switching providers, you don't need to be brand new to health insurance. Generally the only restriction is that you'll need to be considered a new customer by the fund you're signing up to. Learn more about getting a great deal when switching providers.
Sometimes, you can take advantage of additional discounts:
Corporate policies. Check with your employer to see if they offer corporate health insurance. Corporate sector discounts of up to 12% are often granted by health funds, which are then passed onto employees in the form of cheaper policies.
Family policies. Many health funds offer incentives for families, such as no hospital admission excess for children, no-gap dental and allowing you to keep your child on your policy until they turn 25 (if they are studying full time).
Single parent policies. Health funds have been allowed to provide single parents with a reduced premium compared to the family rate since 2007. If your fund does not offer a reduced rate, consider moving to another fund that does.
Annual and direct debit discounts. Look for a fund that rewards you for prepaying your premiums or having them direct debited out of your account.
Lots of health insurance brands offer discounts for paying your premiums by direct debit, or for paying for a full year in advance. The following table lists several Australian health insurance providers who do.
4%
n/a
4%
n/a
4%
n/a
n/a
Annual: 2.5%
2%
n/a
3%
n/a
n/a
Annual: 4%
Bi-annual: 2%
2.5%
n/a
n/a
Annual: 4%
Bi-annual: 2%
4%
n/a
Sources
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.
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Tim's expertise
Tim
has written
154
Finder guides across topics including:
Gary Ross Hunter has over 6 years of expertise writing about insurance, including life, health, home, and car insurance. Having reviewed hundreds of product disclosure statements and published over 800 articles, he loves simplifying complex insurance topics for everyday readers. Gary has contributed to major outlets like Yahoo Finance, The Sydney Morning Herald, and news.com.au, and holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature from the University of Glasgow, along with a Tier 2 General Advice certification, ensuring his work adheres to ASIC’s RG146 standards.
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Gary Ross's expertise
Gary Ross
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