Compare Health Insurance

Why compare health insurance with Canstar?

No cost to you

Using our comparison tool to find a better deal is free. We may receive a commission from our online partners if you apply for a health insurance policy you find on our site.

Expert research

Our team of health insurance research experts crunch the numbers to rate health insurance based on value (price as well as features) to help you compare. Read the health insurance methodology.

A wide range of insurers

We rate and review health insurance policies from more than 25 brands which means you can compare and choose products from both large and challenger brands, established and new.

Easy to compare & apply

Our health insurance comparison tool allows you to filter your search results so it’s easy to find the right product for you. What’s more, you can click straight through to many of our online insurers, making it easy to apply instantly.

Better deals are found when you compare

Canstar helps millions of Australians each year compare and find better deals

Sally Tindall’s guide to comparing health insurance

Health insurance tips from our expert

Don’t set and forget

Health insurance isn’t a ‘set and forget’ expense. Your needs change, and so do policies. Take half an hour at least once a year to review your cover. Are you still paying for pregnancy and birth-related services when your kids are in high school? Or have you picked up a new sport that might put you at higher risk of injury? A quick review can help you cut out what you don’t need and ensure you’re covered where it matters.

Consider a higher excess

A higher excess means you’ll pay more out of pocket if you need treatment, but it can significantly reduce your premiums. If you’re fit, healthy, and not making frequent claims, this could be a way to trim down your monthly bill. Just make sure you have enough savings to cover the excess if you ever need to use your policy.

Loyalty won’t always save you money

Health insurers love long-term customers, but that doesn’t mean they’ll reward you for sticking around. If you’ve been with the same provider for years, chances are you’re paying more than you need to. Before your policy renews, shop around, compare policies, and see if switching could save you money. And don’t be afraid to call your insurer and ask for a better deal – you might be surprised at what they offer to keep you.

A quick calculation on how much you could save, even after paying switch fees, is likely to be enough to spur you into action.

Sally Tindall, Canstar Director of Data Insights

One of Australia’s leading financial and political commentators, Sally Tindall serves as Canstar’s official spokesperson. An advocate for national financial literacy, Sally regularly provides industry commentary and consumer insights within the banking, insurance, energy, and broader financial services industries, empowering Australians to make financially sound choices.

Sally’s advice to customers when choosing a health provider has always been to “read the fine print and not be fooled by incentives and finite offers”, encouraging a holistic approach to selecting a provider—not just choosing the cheapest option and volume of incentives.

Her expert insights are frequently sought by leading Australian media outlets including The Australian, News.com.au, Herald Sun, Sydney Morning Herald, The Australian Financial Review, Herald Sun, ABC, Domain.com.au, realestate.com.au, 9news, and Yahoo! Finance. 

Sally’s extensive career includes working across all levels of Australian government, notably for the Hon. Julia Gillard, where she contributed to Federal Budgets focused on easing living costs and led communications at multinational finance forums like the G20 and APEC. Follow Sally on LinkedIn.

What is private health insurance?

Private health insurance is a type of insurance policy that provides cover for a variety of healthcare options and medical expenses, including costs that Medicare may not cover.

Australians wanting to buy private health insurance can choose hospital cover, extras cover, or a combined policy that includes both.

What are the benefits of private health cover?

Hospital cover

Hospital cover allows a patient to be treated in a private hospital, or to be treated as a private patient in a public hospital, generally with their choice of doctor. It can also cover a portion of the medical expenses involved when you’re admitted to hospital. Hospital policies are offered under “tiers” based on the categories of treatments they cover. Read more about the main tiers Gold, Silver, Bronze and Basic.

Extras cover

Extras cover helps with the expenses of other health services that Medicare does not cover. This could include allied healthcare, such as physiotherapy, chiropractic treatment, dental treatment, glasses and contact lenses. Some policies may also cover lifestyle benefits, such as gym memberships. Read more about extras cover.

Dental cover

Dental cover can help cover general dental treatments such as check ups, cleaning and fillings. It can also cover major dental procedures such as root canals and dentures. Read more about dental cover.

Medicare Levy Surcharge

The Medicare Levy Surcharge is a charge of up to 1.5% that is levied on Australian taxpayers who don’t have hospital cover and earn above a certain income. Read more about the Medicare Levy Surcharge.

Lifetime Health Cover Loading

The Lifetime Health Cover loading is designed to encourage Australians to take out hospital cover when they are young. It charges you a premium loading if you take out cover after your 31st birthday. Read more about the Lifetime Health Cover loading.

Private Health Insurance rebate

The private health insurance rebate can help you save on your health insurance premiums, depending on your age and how much you earn. Read more about the private health insurance rebate.

Looking for the best health insurance?

So how can you find the best health insurance policy for you? A good place to start when comparing private health insurance could be to work out what types of cover or other policy factors are important to you.

Health insurance has different levels of cover suited to different life stages and needs. For example, you may need a hospital policy that covers a particular medical condition, or you may want to ensure you have help paying for your children’s dental work. When considering your health insurance needs, questions you may like to consider could include:

• What health insurance life stage are you at? (e.g. are you single, in a couple, or part of a family with children?)
• Do you want extras cover? If so, what services do you spend money on now? What might you need in the future?
• Do you or your family have any pre-existing conditions that need to be included in the cover?
• What is your budget for premiums and excess payments?

Once you know what policy inclusions are important to you, the excess you are comfortable with and the premium price you can afford, it’s time to compare your options. Canstar can help you compare health insurance providers and make a shortlist of policies that could suit your needs the best, based on features and price.

How does Canstar compare health insurance?

Canstar compares thousands of eligible health insurance products. Every year, we perform a detailed analysis to help you choose a health insurance policy that includes hospital cover, extras cover, or both hospital and extras cover, to suit your household needs and budget.

Whether you’re looking for singles health insurance, couples health insurance, student health insurance, family cover or overseas visitors health insurance, Canstar can help.

Looking for cheap health insurance?

If you want a cheap health insurance policy, a good first step may be to compare premium quotes from a range of providers based on the level of cover you need. It’s important to also factor in the inclusions and exclusions for each policy you’re considering when shopping around. A cheap health insurance policy might save you money each month, but it’s important to make sure you have the hospital or extras cover you might need to avoid any surprises in the future. Is there a trade-off when it comes to the number of conditions and treatments you’re covered for, compared to a more extensive policy that may cost more? For example, for a cheap health insurance option you might decide on a Basic level hospital policy, but this would likely offer less cover than a Bronze, Silver or Gold policy would. It’s important to check your policy’s cover limits and excess too, so you’re aware of what you might need to pay out-of-pocket if you have to make a claim. It can also be a great idea to read through the Private Health Information Statement and other key documentation for your policy, to help with your decision-making.

What’s new in health insurance in October 2025?

• Australia’s peak private hospital body has accused the nation’s insurers of engaging in “unfair and uncontainable” practices and “abusing their unequal bargaining power” in a letter to the federal government.
• The letter, from Australian Private Hospitals Association chief Brett Heffernan, warns that many of the nation’s private hospitals are on the brink of collapse thanks to insurers issuing them with “take it or leave it” contracts.
• “These arrangements mean that people with private health insurance are getting less for their money year in, year out,” said Heffernan, per ABC News reports. “They’re getting less choice, less access and quality is being compromised.”
• From July 1, the income threshold for the Australian government’s private health insurance rebate has increased to $101,000 for singles and $202,000 for families, with $1,500 for each dependent child after the first.
• Depending on you income, this may put you into a lower tier, which is a benefit in this case, as it may make you eligible for a higher rebate than you were on before.

About the authors