Compare hospital and extras cover from Australia's leading insurers — plus clear guides on tiers, the rebate, the surcharge and waiting periods.
Canstar's 2026 Health Insurance Awards for outstanding value went to Bupa, GMHBA, HCF and Medibank, delivering consistently strong results across hospital, extras and package policies. Latrobe Health Services won the customer satisfaction award, worth considering if claims service matters as much to you as headline price.
Combined hospital and extras cover averages $234/month for a single person under 36, rising to $295/month for those 60 and over. Family cover averages $474–$558/month depending on age. The Australian Government Rebate reduces most people's real cost below the sticker price — by 8% to 32% depending on income and age — so it's worth checking your rebate tier before comparing premiums.
Three government mechanisms shape what health insurance actually costs you: the Private Health Insurance Rebate (which reduces your premium based on income and age), the Medicare Levy Surcharge (an extra tax on higher earners without appropriate hospital cover), and Lifetime Health Cover loading (a permanent premium increase for joining after 31). Understanding all three before you buy — or before you decide to wait — is the single biggest factor in your lifetime cost.
The four things that actually decide what you pay
Everything you need to make a confident decision