2016 Health Insurance Compared: The State Winners

Canstar has researched and rated 628 health insurance products from 24 health insurers across Australia to determine which insurers are offering outstanding value on a state by state basis for Australians.

Canstar’s Health Insurance Star Ratings is the largest of our suite of ratings and awards based on sheer size of the rating. We have 287 consumer profiles which cover various demographics across the states and territories in Australia, and we look at 628 health insurance products to assess their value for those profiles.

This whole process has provided us an appreciation for the task that each consumer must go through when trying to choose the right health insurance policy for our individual needs. It is not only about finding a policy that will meet our budget, but also finding one that will provide the cover we need. With the large range of options available from multiple health fund providers, this process can be difficult.

That is where our Star Ratings step in to assist in putting you on the right path to finding a product that not only matches your budget but also provides value based on what it covers. So – which health funds received Canstar’s Outstanding Value award on a state by state basis?

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Queensland Health Insurance winners

According to the most recent APRA statistics, 44.5% of Queenslanders hold private hospital cover and 50.2% hold an extras policy – incidentally, this level of coverage is the lowest of any state bar the Northern Territory!

When it comes to what Queenslanders look for in a health insurance policy on Canstar’s website, the most-sought hospital & extras inclusions are:

Source: based on visitors to Canstar health insurance selector tables over 12 months to September 2016

When it comes to what health insurance costs for Queenslanders, Canstar’s 2016 research has calculated the following average premiums:

The Queensland 2016 Outstanding Value winners are:

Compare Health Insurance in QLD

Considering a health insurance policy in QLD? See our comparison table below for a snapshot of the hospital cover policies available for a single male, sorted by our star ratings (highest to lowest) with links direct to the providers website.

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NSW Health Insurance Winners

According to the most recent APRA statistics, NSW residents are diligent about their health insurance, with 47.9% holding private hospital cover and 57.6% holding an extras policy.

In terms of what NSW residents look for in a health insurance policy on Canstar’s website, the most-sought hospital & extras inclusions are:

Source: based on visitors to Canstar health insurance selector tables over 12 months to September 2016

When it comes to what health insurance costs for NSW residents, Canstar’s 2016 research has calculated the following average premiums:

The NSW 2016 Outstanding Value winners are:

Compare Health Insurance in NSW

Considering a health insurance policy in NSW? See our comparison table below for a snapshot of the hospital cover policies available for a single male, sorted by our star ratings (highest to lowest).

Compare Health Insurance for NSW

Victoria Health Insurance Winners

Excluding the Northern Territory, Victorians share the dubious honour with Queensland of having the lowest proportion of residents holding private hospital cover, at 44.5%.  Approximately 51.1% hold an extras policy.

In terms of what Victorians look for in a health insurance policy on Canstar’s website, the most-sought hospital & extras inclusions are:

Source: based on visitors to Canstar health insurance selector tables over 12 months to September 2016

When it comes to what health insurance costs for Victorians, Canstar’s 2016 research has calculated the following average premiums:

The VIC 2016 Outstanding Value winners are:

Compare Health Insurance in VIC

Considering a health insurance policy in VIC? See our comparison table below for a snapshot of the hospital cover policies available for a single male, sorted by our star ratings (highest to lowest).

Compare Health Insurance for Victoria

Northern Territory Health Insurance Winners

According to APRA statistics, Northern Territory residents have the lowest proportion of private health insurance coverage across all states and territories, with 40.9% holding private hospital cover,  and 44.3% holding an extras policy.

In terms of what NT residents look for in a health insurance policy on Canstar’s website, the most-sought hospital & extras inclusions are:

Source: based on visitors to Canstar health insurance selector tables over 12 months to September 2016

When it comes to what health insurance costs for NT residents, Canstar’s 2016 research has calculated the following average premiums:

The Northern Territory 2016 Outstanding Value winners are:

Compare Health Insurance in NT

Considering a health insurance policy in NT? See our comparison table below for a snapshot of the hospital cover policies available for a single male, sorted by our star ratings (highest to lowest).

Compare Health Insurance for NT

South Australia Health Insurance Winners

At 46%, South Australians are almost exactly in the middle when it comes to the proportion of residents holding private hospital cover – neither higher nor lower than other states. And at 59.4% holding an extras policy, they are nicely idle of the road there as well.

In terms of what South Australians look for in a health insurance policy on Canstar’s website, the most-sought hospital & extras inclusions are:

Source: based on visitors to Canstar health insurance selector tables over 12 months to September 2016

When it comes to what health insurance costs for South Australians, Canstar’s 2016 research has calculated the following average premiums:

The SA 2016 Outstanding Value winners are:

Compare Health Insurance in SA

Considering a health insurance policy in SA? See our comparison table below for a snapshot of the hospital cover policies available for a single male, sorted by our star ratings (highest to lowest).

Compare Health Insurance for South Australia

West Australia Health Insurance Winners

Apart from the ACT, West Australians are the most likely of all states’ residents to hold a private hospital cover insurance policy, at 55%. And they almost tie with the ACT in enthusiasm for an extras policy, at 68.4% (apart from the ACT, the nest-nearest state is NSW, at 57.6%).

In terms of what West Australians look for in a health insurance policy on Canstar’s website, the most-sought hospital & extras inclusions are:

Source: based on visitors to Canstar health insurance selector tables over 12 months to September 2016

When it comes to what health insurance costs for West Australians, Canstar’s 2016 research has calculated the following average premiums:

The WA 2016 Outstanding Value winners are:

Compare Health Insurance in WA

Considering a health insurance policy in WA? See our comparison table below for a snapshot of the hospital only policies available for a single male, sorted by our star ratings (highest to lowest).

Compare Health Insurance for WA

Tasmania Health Insurance Winners

According to the APRA statistics, 44.8% of Tasmanians hold a private hospital cover insurance policy and 51.6% hold an extras policy.

In terms of what Tasmanians look for in a health insurance policy on Canstar’s website, the most-sought hospital & extras inclusions are:

Source: based on visitors to Canstar health insurance selector tables over 12 months to September 2016

When it comes to what health insurance costs for Tasmanians, Canstar’s 2016 research has calculated the following average premiums:

The Tasmanian 2016 Outstanding Value winners are:

Compare Health Insurance in TAS

Considering a health insurance policy in TAS? See our comparison table below for a snapshot of the hospital only policies available for a single male, sorted by our star ratings (highest to lowest).

Compare Health Insurance for Tasmania

Read the full Canstar Health Insurance ratings report here.