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Why compare health insurance?
Here’s how our experts can help you with your health insurance
Avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge
Avoid long waits for surgery
Find cover that is
right for you
Save on extras that matter to you
What are the benefits of private health cover?
* Subject to income test and appropriate cover being held.
** Payable when health cover is eventually purchased. LHC loading is added to the hospital cover premium.
What is hospital cover?
This is the part of your cover that pays for your hospital stay, hospital care, and any medications you receive
while in hospital. What treatments you’re covered for, and the extent of that cover depends on the tier of cover
you get. See below:
First-Time Buyers
Switching Plans
Get overseas visitors health cover
in minutes
Our experts can help make your journey into Australia as easy as possible by helping you get overseas visitors health cover before you’ve arrived.
We can even help you receive your certificate of insurance online and our OVHC policies meet visa condition 8501.
How our experts have
helped Australians like you
Showing our 4 & 5 star reviews
by J C
Cheers to Mac!
Took out my first ever Private Health Insurance policy today with the assistance of Mac who was super helpful and cracked a few jokes here which made it an enjoyable experience. Cheers Mac, you're a Legend!
by Louise Chiconi
They had my best interests in sight
I spoke with a lovely lady, Ellie, who was looking out for my best interests in health insurance, understanding what I was looking for and what I needed. Whilst I had done some research of my own I also needed assistance on understanding other areas (health insurance is not the easiest to understand) and we both agreed on the same. Having her understand my priorities was a great way to move forwards.
by Vera Randall
PROFESSIONAL, EMPATHETIC, ADVICE SAVED $S
On following up on our re quest for a review of our health fund cover, team member Andy, handled our enquiry professionally, with empathy and friendliness. We accepted Andy's information with confidence and transferred to a fund that is not saving us $200 plus per month. In addition, Andy informed us that when out of the country, on advising our new fund we would not be required to make a payment.
by Sharon F
Very Happy Customer
My experience today with both Shaneen (not sure) and Taylor was exceptional. They took their time to ask the necessary questions of what I was wanting to achieve from my Health Care Fund. I found Taylor to be very professional and helpful and he was able to find a much better option for me where I not only saved but also received more for my dollar. Couldn't ask for more than that!!
by Ray Russell
I've been thinking of changing…
I've been thinking of changing Healthcare insurance for a while but found it a bit daunting. Using this comparison service made it all easy. Well explained and pleasant to deal with. Ended up with a similar policy for less with better extras cover. And some pretty handy advice from Alex Valentini. Thankyou.
by Robert Leslie Johnson
First of all I enquired about my health fund costs
First of all I enquired about my health fund costs and in doing so I found that I could save a few dollars on my current fund. The people at compare club are not pushy in any way and it was a pleasure doing business with them. Then I asked about my electricity costs and the same thing applied I saved more money as I am in my 80s every little bit helps.
by Brad
The assistance was god and concise
The assistance was god and concise, my big problem was not getting told of the increase and therefore given a premium that was to be out of date before I paid my first. Not happy Jan.
by Anne
A good review - so far
I was impressed with my service Matt the person I dealt with was clear and helpful I must admit I was weary as I had a bad expert with a company with health comparisons before and that locked me into a contract that didn’t cover what I requested So so far all is ok and appreciated the follow up afterwards Let’s hope our association is a good one Anne
by Anthony
Easy to comprehend and informative
Easy to comprehend and informative. Understanding our requirements and adjusting our policy to suit. Everything was well explained.
by Marjetta
Very informative
Very informative
by Thuy
It was very good!
It was very good!
by Dianne
conversation was easy and…
conversation was easy and understandable very informative
by Dianne
Health comparison
Max was very informative and made sure I got everything I needed in my policy at a better price than HCF
by Divakar
Yanni from Compareclub was very patient…
Yanni from your group was very patient and honest. He took the time to understand my requirements and provide a health fund that suited our needs. I took the call from him as unlike other sales people who earlier responded to my enquiry started bragging about their qualifications.
by Sara Meadows
Greater savings monthly and on claims
Alexander was extremely helpful. Made sure he understood our needs and found a new policy for us that is not only cheaper but will allow us to claim more on the services we use most.
by Don
Excellent service
Excellent service, easy to talk too
by Stuart Drummond
The client representative very knowledgeable
The client representative was very knowledgeable and extremely helpful to save any confusion with the change over.
by Gary Newman
Josh was super efficient and helpful
Josh was super efficient and helpful
by Catriona
The staff were very informative and…explained the policy in great detail
The staff were very informative and easy to talk with
by karen
great customer service and follow up and listening was a big chsnge
great customer service from this gentleman listen to my needs took the m on board and came up with a solution in layman terms and followed up
Save on your health cover in just
minutes as some premiums are set
to increase.
Over the last five years our experts have saved Australians an average of $300* when they've compared and switched health cover through us. Save on your health premiums with our experts today. Find out more.
* Based on 336,746 customers between 1 Jan 2019 - 23 December 2023.
See how you can save while many health premiums spike
Use our premium increase calculator.
* Based on 336,746 customers between 1 Jan 2019 - 23 December 2023.
Chris Stanley is the sales & operations manager of health insurance at Compare Club. With extensive experience and expertise, Chris is a trusted leader known for his deep understanding of health insurance markets, policies, and coverage options. As the sales & operations manager of health insurance, Chris leads a team of dedicated professionals committed to helping individuals and families make informed decisions about their health insurance needs.
Chris Stanley
- Sales & Operations Manager for Health Insurance
Learn more about health insurance
Dental extras cover helps pay for costs associated with dental care, from routine check-ups to complex procedures. With this, you can smile wider knowing your teeth are covered.
Optical extras provide financial help for eye-related health care such as glasses and contact lenses. See life in a clearer light, and keep your eyes healthy with optical extras.
The Medicare Levy Surcharge is a tax for Australians who don't have private health insurance but earn above a certain income. Avoid the surcharge, and benefit from private care by exploring health insurance options.
This cover ensures visitors to Australia receive necessary medical treatment during their stay. If you're travelling to the land Down Under, consider getting overseas visitors cover for peace of mind.
A plan designed to cover both you and your partner's health needs. Simplify your policy management, potentially save costs, and ensure you both receive the care you need with couples health insurance.
These are set timeframes you must wait before claiming benefits after starting a new insurance policy or upgrading your current one. Understanding waiting periods helps avoid surprises when it comes time to use your insurance.
Changing your health insurer could help you find a better fit for your needs or reduce your premiums. If you're contemplating a switch, get informed to make sure the change works in your favour.
Ambulance cover takes care of costs related to emergency ambulance services. Without it, these costs can be hefty - secure this cover and ensure swift and affordable medical response when you need it most.
Family health insurance plans provide coverage for all eligible family members under one policy. It's designed to protect those you love most, ensuring your family's health needs are covered without needing separate plans for each member.
A glossary of health insurance terms
Ambulance Cover: Ambulance cover refers to the insurance coverage for emergency ambulance services. In Australia, ambulance services are generally not covered by Medicare (the public healthcare system) and can result in significant out-of-pocket expenses. Having ambulance cover through private health insurance helps protect individuals from the high costs associated with emergency ambulance transport.
It's important to note that ambulance cover requirements and regulations vary between Australian states and territories. Some states provide free or subsidized ambulance services to their residents, while others require individuals to have their own ambulance cover. It's crucial to check the specific requirements and regulations in your state or territory and ensure that you have adequate ambulance cover in place to avoid potential financial burden during emergency situations.
Extras Cover: Additional health insurance coverage that provides benefits for services not typically covered by Medicare, such as dental care, optical services, physiotherapy, and chiropractic treatments. Here are some examples of extras that are commonly covered under private health insurance policies in Australia:
Gap Cover: An arrangement where private health insurers may provide additional benefits to cover or reduce the out-of-pocket expenses (known as the "gap") incurred by policyholders for in-hospital medical services not fully covered by Medicare.
General Dental: General Dental refers to routine dental treatments and preventive care aimed at maintaining oral health. These can include services such as check-ups, teeth cleanings, X-rays, fillings, and basic extractions. General Dental coverage is a common component of extras cover provided by private health insurance policies in Australia. It helps individuals offset the costs of routine dental visits and basic treatments. The level of coverage for General Dental can vary depending on the insurance policy and the specific extras cover chosen by the individual.
Hospital Cover Tiers: Hospital cover in Australia is categorized into tiers, which represent different levels of coverage and benefits. These tiers were introduced to simplify and standardize private health insurance policies. The tiers are as follows:
Hospital Cover: Hospital cover refers to the component of private health insurance that provides coverage for hospital treatments and services. Hospital cover allows individuals to have greater control over their healthcare options by providing access to private hospitals, choice of doctor, shorter waiting times, and accommodation in a private room (depending on the level of cover). Hospital cover typically includes benefits for in-hospital medical procedures, surgeries, accommodation, and related services, such as anesthesia and operating theatre fees.
Lifetime Health Cover (LHC): A loading or penalty applied to the premium of private health insurance policies if an individual takes out cover after the age of 30. It incentivizes individuals to maintain continuous private health insurance coverage.
Major Dental: Major Dental refers to a category of dental treatments that typically involve more extensive procedures and higher costs. These can include treatments such as crowns, bridges, dentures, orthodontics (braces), and oral surgery. Major Dental coverage is a type of extras cover offered by private health insurance policies in Australia. It provides benefits or a percentage of the cost for major dental treatments, helping individuals manage the financial burden associated with these procedures. The specific coverage and limits for Major Dental can vary depending on the insurance policy and level of extras cover chosen by the individual.
Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS): An additional tax imposed on high-income earners who do not have private health insurance and earn above a certain threshold. It encourages individuals to take out private health insurance and reduce the burden on the public healthcare system.
Medicare: Australia's publicly funded healthcare system that provides basic medical services and subsidized treatments to Australian residents.
Network: A group of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers that have contracted with an insurance company to provide services
No-Gap: No-Gap refers to a situation where a policyholder does not have to pay any out-of-pocket expenses or the "gap" for certain medical services or treatments. It typically applies to in-hospital services where the medical practitioner agrees to charge an agreed fee and Medicare and health insurance covers the full No-Gap arrangements can help individuals minimise their expenses for specific procedures or treatments.
Orthodontics: Orthodontics is a branch of dentistry that focuses on correcting misaligned teeth and jaw irregularities. It involves the use of braces, retainers, aligners, and other dental appliances to straighten teeth and improve bite alignment. Orthodontic treatment is typically considered a major dental procedure. Private health insurance policies in Australia may offer coverage for orthodontic treatment under extras cover, specifically under the Major Dental category. It's important to review the specific policy details and waiting periods associated with orthodontic coverage, as there may be limitations and conditions for reimbursement.
OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover): OSHC is a specific type of health insurance designed for international students studying in Australia. It is a requirement for most student visa subclasses to ensure that students have access to necessary healthcare services during their studies in Australia.
OSHC provides coverage for essential medical treatments, hospital stays, prescription medications, and emergency services. It helps international students manage the costs associated with healthcare while studying in Australia and ensures they have access to necessary medical care.
Out-of-Pocket Expenses: Out-of-pocket expenses refer to the costs that individuals are responsible for paying directly when receiving healthcare services, even if they have health insurance coverage. These expenses can include deductibles, co-payments, and coinsurance, as well as any costs not covered by insurance. Out-of-pocket expenses can vary depending on the type of service, the insurance plan, and any applicable limits or exclusions.
OVHC (Overseas Visitor Health Cover): OVHC refers to health insurance specifically designed for visitors to Australia, including temporary residents, such as international students, working holiday visa holders, and temporary skilled workers. OVHC is a requirement for most visa subclasses to ensure that visitors have access to necessary healthcare services while in Australia.
OVHC provides coverage for essential medical treatments, hospital stays, and emergency services during the visitor's stay in Australia. It helps protect visitors from the high costs of medical care and ensures they have access to necessary healthcare services during their time in the country.
PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme): The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme is a program by the Australian Government that subsidizes the cost of a wide range of prescription medications, making them more affordable for Australian residents. Under the PBS, eligible individuals pay a reduced price (known as the patient co-payment) for prescribed medications, while the government covers the remaining cost. The PBS ensures access to essential medications at affordable prices for the Australian population.
Pre-existing Condition: A medical condition that existed before an individual took out health insurance or upgraded their cover. Waiting periods may apply before coverage is provided for treatment related to pre-existing conditions.
Preferred Provider: Healthcare providers, such as doctors or specialists, who have an agreement with an insurance company to provide services at agreed-upon fees. Policyholders may receive higher benefits or reduced out-of-pocket expenses when using preferred providers.
Premium: The amount of money paid to the insurance company at regular intervals (monthly, quarterly, annually) to maintain health insurance coverage.
Private Health Insurance Rebate: A government subsidy provided to eligible individuals to help offset the cost of private health insurance premiums. The rebate amount is based on income and age.
Waiting Period: The specified period an individual must wait after taking out private health insurance or upgrading their cover before they can claim benefits for certain treatments or services. Waiting periods vary depending on the treatment or service.
Health Insurance FAQs
For a quick and easy comparison, speak to a health insurance adviser over the phone to receive free quotes tailored to your preferences and budget. It may also be helpful to speak with family and friends who have been customers of various health funds in the past.
But before you get started, you should have a clear idea of what kind of policy you are looking for. Factors to consider include:
Decide if you want Hospital cover, Extras cover or Ambulance cover, or a combination of these cover types
Who you want to cover. Are you interested in a single, family or couples policy
From here, you can do the relevant research that allows you to ultimately choose the best private health insurance for you.
Generally, the best health insurance policy for you will be the one that:
Is comfortable within your budget
Provides the type of cover you want
Provides the level of cover you want
Is set up with a company you trust
Is transparent about its conditions
Is customisable to your needs
Once you know what you are looking for, undertaking a private health insurance comparison can help you identify how each fund competes in premiums, coverage conditions and other factors that are important to you.
Compare Club can help you compare health insurance policies from eight different health funds, including some of Australia's leading health insurers like Bupa, AHM and HCF.
It may be useful to investigate the Australian Medical Association's annual Health Insurance Report Card. It aims to shed light on how health insurance really works and provide consumers with clear, concise information regarding different health funds.
Keep in mind, however, that the results of each fund can change drastically year upon year. Before committing to a policy, you should always look at a wide range of factors, conduct a review with the help of our team of industry experts and read the policy documentation from the health fund you are interested in.
The main difference is that Medicare only covers hospital treatment as a public patient in a public hospital and a set range of non-hospital services such as GP visits and eye check-ups.
Private health insurance offers benefits beyond the public health system. Ambulance journeys and some out-of-hospital costs such as dental check-ups and glasses are not covered by Medicare.
In addition, appropriate private health cover allows you to choose your own doctor, be treated as a private patient in a public hospital (with access to improved facilities like a private room, subject to availability), cover gap fees and bypass long public hospital elective surgery waiting lists by choosing to have your treatment in a private hospital.
There are multiple government incentives for people to buy private health insurance, such as avoiding the Medicare Levy surcharge.
How much you pay for private health insurance depends on what level of cover you want and which provider you choose. On average, health insurance policies cost between $2000 to $3000 per year depending on whether you have hospital cover, extras cover, or a mixture of hospital and extras cover (combined policy).
It doesn’t cost anything to compare health insurance and switch to a better policy, so there’s no downside to choosing something better. For example, if you feel you’re paying too much in private health insurance premiums, you can shop around for a cheaper policy that still covers the things that are important to you.
Compare Club makes it easy to compare health insurance and choose a better policy. Our specialists will help you compare policies from our panel of trusted private health insurers so you can make the right switch.
Just because you are already signed up with a health insurance provider does not mean you are locked in forever. If you find a better alternative, you will not be penalised for shopping around.
You can do your own health insurance comparison and switch at any time without incurring additional charges.
Even better, if you have already paid some health insurance premiums in advance and you decide to switch, your insurer will calculate the difference and refund the remaining balance, usually in full.
Just remember that your unserved waiting periods will transfer to your new provider. So if you end up switching health insurance to an equivalent cover, you may need to finish these waiting periods before making a claim.
Think you could get a better deal? Switching health insurance does not need to be a hassle. Let us help you through the process of changing providers.
Identify which funds have the features you want, and shop around for value. It sounds simple, but health insurance can be confusing. Start by reading our guide on how to compare and select the right policy.
It is worth taking time to note down what health services you and your partner or family need today and in the future.
Doing this will make it easier to decide what level of hospital cover you need; Gold, Silver, Bronze or Basic. Look for the health fund package that includes everything you need without including many items you will likely never use.
Then go through the same exercise for your extras. Do you wear glasses? How much are you currently paying for a dental check-up? Are you likely to need physio in the future?
There are other things to consider when choosing a health fund. How long will you have to wait before you can access treatment? What rebates can I get? Are there any limits to what I can claim on my extras? Will I get hit by gap fees?
As you can tell, trying to compare health insurance can be a time consuming and confusing process. That is why our specialists can compare policies from our panel of insurers in a matter of minutes and quickly help you find the cover you need at a price you can afford. If you’re looking for a quick and easy health insurance comparison, Compare Club has you covered.
Switching to another private health insurer is easier than you might think. All you need to do is contact the private health fund that offers the new policy you want to switch to. When you decide to make the switch, your former health fund will generate a clearance certificate for your new health fund.
Alternatively, you could leave all the hard work to the experts at Compare Club. Just provide us with some basic information about your personal circumstances (single, couple, family etc.) and what type of cover you’re looking for, and we’ll take care of the rest. Our specialists will provide you with the best possible policy options from a range of private health funds, leaving the final decision to you.
Learn more about how to switch your health insurance.
It can be hard to compare health insurance in Australia due to how many competitive options there are. Many policies, on the surface, are very similar, and unless you’re pretty familiar with the industry, figuring out the best policy for you can be difficult.
Think about what’s most important for you with a new health insurance policy and see how different private health funds stack up in those areas. If it all gets a bit much, don’t worry, you can use Compare Club to get a quick comparison from our health insurance experts. We’ll help you find private health insurance that covers what you need at a price you can afford.
Having appropriate private health insurance from an early age means you can avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS), avoid Lifetime Health Cover loading and likely get the Australian government health insurance rebate.
If you earn over $93,000 as an individual or $186,000 as a family, you need to take out private health insurance to avoid being hit by the Medicare Levy Surcharge. This can be up to 1.5% of your income, depending on how much you earn.
Lifetime health cover loading, meanwhile, affects people who do not take out private hospital insurance before they are 31. If you decide to take our cover at a later age, you will pay a loading fee.
This is 2% for each year you did not hold cover from the 1st of July following your 31st birthday. So, if you are 35 when you decide to take out private health cover, you will pay a 10% loading fee. LHC is capped at 70%.
The private health insurance rebate is money the government contributes towards paying your private health insurance premiums. Your age and income determine the exact rebate you get.
You can claim the rebate through your health fund or apply it when you lodge your yearly tax return. Learn more about how the private health insurance rebate works in Australia.
If you have pre-existing conditions, you may not get immediate cover for what you want and will have to serve a waiting period before you can claim. If you are switching your health insurance policy to one with an equal or lesser level of cover, you will not need to re-serve waiting periods.
Learn more about pre-existing conditions and health insurance.
All your health insurance questions answered
with our in-depth guides
Got kids or thinking about having a baby? Here's everything you need to know about covering your family.
Older Australians often have high premiums. Here's how seniors can get a good deal on their health cover.
Just looking for health cover for one? Here's how both first-timers and loyal customers can get value for money.
Things you should know
As our customer you'll be provided with quotes directly from the insurer for the product you intend to purchase. We manage the application and deal with the administration work and insurer. We do not charge you a fee for the service we provide, the insurer simply remunerates us in return for setting up your policy.
The financial and insurance products compared on this website do not necessarily compare all features that may be relevant to you. Comparisons are made on the basis of price only and different products may have different features and different levels of coverage. Compare Club does not compare all policies available in Australia and our partner insurers may not make all policies available to Compare Club.