Key takeaways
- 41.7% of Queenslanders have hospital cover. 48.7% have extras cover.
- QLD residents are less likely to have hospital cover than the average Aussie.
- The cost of Queensland health insurance is higher than most other states.
The price of hospital insurance in Queensland
Queensland hospital premiums are slightly higher than the national average. Premiums are standardised by state though, so you'll pay the same in Brisbane, Bundaberg or Bowen. Below are average monthly hospital premiums by tier for a single person earning less than $105,000 a year with a $750 excess. The numbers are based on the government databased in April 2026.
QLD health insurance statistics
41.7% of Queenslanders have hospital cover, while 48.7% have extras cover. That's slightly less than the national averages. See the table below for more details. These numbers come from APRA's quarterly health insurance statistics in December 2025.
| Hospital Cover | Extras cover | |
|---|---|---|
| QLD | 41.7% | 48.7% |
| Australia | 45.6% | 55.3% |
Beyond the broad statistics, specific benefits can greatly influence the value of a policy. Medibank and HCF both offer "no gap" dental programs where members can receive 100% back on up to two dental check-ups per year at participating providers (Medibank, 2026; HCF, 2026). Additionally, mental health support has become a priority inclusion. Medibank provides 24/7 mental health support lines for members to speak with professionals at no extra cost, a vital service for those seeking immediate guidance (Medibank, 2026).
Compare health insurance policies in Queensland
How we calculate our Finder Score
The Finder Score ranks every health policy in our database on value for money. We updated this monthly with data provided by Ombudsman.
We consider the 38 hospital treatment categories, plus the covered extras categories and the total extras benefit. We also use the average price for each product. Here's the breakdown of factors we consider.
Factors that affect your health insurance premiums
- Private Health Insurance Rebate: The price of your policy can vary by over 25% due to rebate. It's mainly based on your age and income.
- Lifetime Health Cover Loading: If you don't have hospital cover after age 31, a 2% loading will be added to the price each year you don't have it.
- State: The cost of medical care is different in every state, and that's reflected in your premiums.
- Policy Excess: A policy with a larger excess will have lower premiums, but you will have more out of pocket costs when you claim.
Understanding waiting periods is essential to avoid unexpected out of pocket costs. Under Australian law, the maximum waiting period for most pre-existing conditions and pregnancy-related services is 12 months (PrivateHealth.gov.au, 2026). It is important to note that a condition is considered pre-existing if signs or symptoms existed in the six months prior to joining, regardless of whether a formal diagnosis was made. For psychiatric care, rehabilitation and palliative care, the waiting period is typically shorter at two months (Department of Health, 2026).
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how do I find the medicare office nearest to my new address postcode 4207 qld
Hi Stan,
Thank you for your question.
Through our Medicare office locations page, you can find the medicare office by entering your postcode into the search bar.
Cheers,
Zubair