Health insurance hacks: Aussies share their best tactics to save on cover
Millions of Australians are taking action to keep a lid on rising health insurance premiums, according to new research by Finder.
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More than half of Australians with a health insurance policy (53%) – equivalent to 8.1 million people – are taking matters into their own hands as premiums continue to climb.
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This comes as Health Minister Mark Butler has approved an average increase of 4.41% to private health insurance premiums, the steepest hike in a decade.
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Finder's research shows 1 in 5 Aussies (21%) go for the most basic policy to keep costs down, while 16% regularly switch to stop their health insurance bill from blowing out.
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A further 1 in 8 (16%) health insurance members pay for a whole year's premiums upfront before April 1 instead of monthly installments to avoid paying more than they need to.
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Taylor Blackburn, personal finance and insurance specialist at Finder, said a few small habits can help keep a cap on premiums.
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"The Australians who get the best bang for their buck are the ones who treat their policy like any other subscription – they review it, renegotiate it and aren't afraid to switch.
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"It's one of the expenses where loyalty can quietly set you back hundreds of dollars a year.
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"Jumping to the most basic policy will get you savings, but make sure you are getting the coverage you need."
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Blackburn said simple moves like ditching extras you never use or keeping an eye out for valuable sign up bonuses can trim serious money off your premiums.
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"Right now, Finder is giving away up to $500 cashback to customers to pick a better deal from well-known providers.
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"These providers will also sweeten the pot themselves with gift cards and free weeks of cover for your trouble.
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"If folks spent 30 minutes a year reviewing their cover, many would find they're either overpaying or insured for things they'll never use – and missing out on the spoils of switching."
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Blackburn said comparison shopping is often the easiest way to cut the cost of cover.
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"Health insurers compete hardest for new customers, which means the best deals rarely go to people who stay put.
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"If you haven't reviewed your policy recently, you could be leaving money on the table."
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Do you do any of the following to save money on health insurance?
| Go for the most basic policy | 21% |
| Regularly switch so I get the best value | 16% |
| Pay for the whole year upfront before 1 April (instead of interval payments) | 16% |
| Don't get extras (dental, physio etc) cover | 11% |
| Only get extras and not hospital cover | 8% |
| I took out a couples policy | 8% |
| Have my hospital policy through one fund and extras policy through another | 3% |
| None of the above | 47% |
| Source: Finder survey of 585 Australians with private health insurance, February 2026 |  |
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Methodology
- Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker is a monthly recurring nationally representative survey of more than 60,000 respondents.
- Figures in this release are based on 585 Australians with private health insurance, February 2026.
- The Consumer Sentiment Tracker is owned by Finder and operated by Qualtrics.
- The survey has been running monthly since May 2019.
Sources
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