1 in 20 Aussies couldn’t tell you what health insurance they have and 13% have never used it
Key takeaways
- 5% of Australians with private health insurance don't know what tier of cover they hold: Basic, Bronze, Silver or Gold.
- 13% have never made a single claim, and a further 38% say they rarely claim and don't feel they're getting value.
- What's next: Dental (63%) and optical (50%) dominate what people do claim, if you're not using either, it might time to find a policy that better aligns with your needs.
Millions of Australians are paying for a product they don't fully understand.
Finder's 2026 Health Report has found 5% of people with private health insurance don't know what tier of cover they hold, while 13% have never made a single claim on their policy.
Of those with hospital cover, 34% hold Basic or Bronze, 30% hold Silver, 24% hold Gold and 7% have extras only, but 5% simply don't know.
The data also found it's not just confusion about tiers.
Around 13% of Aussies with health cover have never made a claim at all, and another 38% say they rarely claim and don't feel they're getting value for money. Together, that's over half of policyholders getting little to nothing back from a policy they're funding year-round.
What people do claim for, and what that means for you
Among those who do claim, dental (63%) and optical (50%) dominate by a wide margin. If your own healthcare needs don't line up with those two categories, it's worth checking whether a different tier, or a different insurer altogether, would actually serve you better.
Separate Finder research found that 83% of Australians stick with the same insurer long-term, and only 17% regularly switch, despite the fact that moving to a comparable plan typically saves $200-$400 a year. If you don't know your tier, or can't remember your last claim, it's a good sign your policy is overdue for a check.
The easiest way to check you're on the right policy is to review it once a year, ideally around tax time or your renewal date.
Take a moment to review your policy and what you're actually claiming versus what you're paying. If your policy isn't stacking up, it might be time switch, which is generally easier than people expect.
When you move to a new fund, they generally recognise any waiting periods you've already served on equivalent cover, so you're not starting from scratch.
Find out if you could be on a better deal by checking out Finder's health insurance quiz.
Not sure your cover matches what you use?
Compare policies that fit your needs.
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