Compare Basic health insurance
The table below shows a selection of Basic hospital cover policies from our Online Partners.

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The initial results in the table above are sorted by Star Rating (High-Low) , then Monthly premium (approx) (Low-High) , then Provider Name (Alphabetical) . Additional filters may have been applied, which impact the results displayed in the table - filters can be applied or removed at any time.
What is Basic health insurance?
Basic health insurance offers the minimum amount of hospital cover that a private health insurance policy can provide. Hospital cover comes in four tiers: Basic, Bronze, Silver and Gold, with ‘Plus’ versions of these policies for certain tiers offering coverage for some additional procedures. Basic is the entry level tier that offers the lowest amount of hospital services covered as standard and is often the most affordable.
What is covered by Basic health insurance?
The Basic tier of private hospital insurance provides you with the minimum of cover for treatment received as part of a hospital admission.
There are 38 categories of treatment defined in the four-tier structure, as listed on the Federal Government’s website privatehealth.gov.au. It lists the minimum requirement for Basic hospital cover as:
- Rehabilitation (Restricted): Physical rehabilitation related to surgery or illness. For example, stroke recovery and cardiac rehabilitation.
- Hospital psychiatric services (Restricted): Treatment and care of patients with psychiatric, mental, addiction or behavioural disorders. For example, schizophrenia, depression, eating disorders, addiction therapy and post-natal depression.
- Palliative care (Restricted): Providing quality of life care for a patient with a terminal illness, including treatment to alleviate and manage pain.
Note that this cover will be offered on a restricted basis. You’re partially covered for hospital costs as a private patient in a public hospital, but may incur some significant out-of-pocket expenses. For example, you won’t be covered for a private room in a public hospital or any room in a private hospital. If you only have basic hospital cover, it’s a good idea to check with your insurer and chosen hospital for details of any fees and other charges you may incur before receiving any treatment.
If you’re signing up for a new policy, or upgrading an existing one, you may find there are waiting periods that apply before you can make any claims, anything from two to 12 months depending on the condition.
You should read policy documents, such as the Private Health Information Statement (PHIS), to see what is and isn’t included in any Basic health insurance policy.
How much does Basic health insurance cost?
How much any Basic health insurance policy costs will depend on your age and healthcare needs, as well as what state or territory you live in. It’ll also depend on whether you’re single or seeking a couples health insurance or family health insurance policy, and whether you want any ‘Extras’ cover for non-hospital treatments (e.g. dental, optical, physio etc.).
You can compare Basic health insurance policies from our Online Partners and their approximate monthly costs by using the table above. You can also change the filters to better suit your requirements.
Is Basic hospital cover sufficient to avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge and Lifetime Health Cover loading?
A Basic hospital cover policy can help you avoid the MLS and LHC if it’s:
- Provided by a registered health insurer
- and has a maximum policy excess of $750 for singles and $1,500 for couples or families.
Note: the policy excess refers to the amount of money you contribute when making a claim on your insurance.
The MLS is a means tested surcharge of up to 1.5% of your taxable earnings charged by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), while the LHC refers to a loading (up to 70%) on the price of your health insurance premiums if you don’t take out private health insurance before the age of 31.
Is Basic health insurance worth it?
This will ultimately depend on your healthcare needs and financial situation. You may consider Basic hospital cover if:
- You have no health issues that you want hospital cover for
- You’re looking for a cheap form of private hospital cover that offers a basic level of coverage
- You want to avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) and/or Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading.
Frequently Asked Questions about Basic Health Insurance
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This advice is general and has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether this advice is right for you.