← Back to Money Detective
Health Insurance Comparison Calculator
Tax check: surcharge and rebate
Uses the ATO's 2026–27 income thresholds and the rebate rates from 1 April 2026.
Lifetime Health Cover loading
If you first took out hospital cover after the 1 July following your 31st birthday, you may pay a loading on the hospital part of your premium.
Check your price rise
Health insurance prices usually change on 1 April. Your fund's letter shows the old and new price.
How to compare private health insurance quotes
Private health insurance is hard to compare because every fund words things differently. This calculator puts your quotes side by side by monthly premium, excess and what is included, so you can see the real trade-offs before you switch or sign up.
Step 1: Compare the same tier of hospital cover
Hospital policies in Australia are grouped into Gold, Silver, Bronze and Basic tiers. Each tier must cover a minimum set of clinical categories. Compare policies in the same tier first, then check whether a cheaper policy has extra restrictions.
Step 2: Enter the price, excess and extras limits
Enter each quote's price and choose how often you pay, and the calculator works out the yearly cost. Add the hospital excess and the yearly limits for the extras you use most. If you add what you expect to claim back from extras, it shows your cost after those claims.
Step 3: Tick what each policy includes
Hospital cover, extras cover and ambulance cover are separate things. Some policies bundle them, some do not. Check what you actually use before paying for extras you will not claim.
What to check before you switch
- Waiting periods. If you switch to the same or lower level of cover, you should not have to re-serve waiting periods you have already served. Any higher cover you add will usually have new waiting periods.
- Restricted or excluded services. A restricted service may only pay a limited amount, which can leave you with large out-of-pocket costs.
- Extras limits. Check the annual limits and how much the fund pays back per visit for dental, optical and physio.
- Ambulance cover. Ambulance cover varies by state. Check whether your state already covers you or whether you need it on your policy.
- Lifetime Health Cover loading and the Medicare Levy Surcharge. These rules can make dropping hospital cover cost more than you save. Check how they apply to you on the Australian Government website before cancelling.
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch health funds at any time?
Yes, you can usually switch at any time. Ask your new fund to confirm which waiting periods carry over before you cancel your old policy, and avoid leaving a gap in cover.
Is extras cover worth it?
It depends on how much you claim. Add up what you claimed last year and compare it with what you paid in extras premiums. If you pay more than you get back, a lower extras level may suit you better.
Is there an official comparison site?
Yes. The Australian Government runs privatehealth.gov.au, which lists every policy from every registered fund. You can pull quotes from there and enter them here to compare.
Does this calculator give me quotes?
No. It compares quotes you already have. Nothing you enter is sent to a health fund.
Keep going
- What to check before switching insurers
- Car insurance comparison calculator
- Home and contents insurance comparison calculator
- Fortnightly Budget Plus spreadsheet: see what your premiums cost each pay cycle
- Household bills checklist: insurance and the other annual bills that are easy to forget