Guides
Every guide we have published
Grouped by topic, newest first. Each one shows the date its figures were last checked, and every figure is cited to the source it came from.
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Private health insurance benefit codes explained: 30, 31, 35, 36, 40 and 41
Benefit codes 30 to 41 on your 2025–26 tax return: the age and period each covers, the A to F tax claim codes, and what each code is worth in dollars.
Does Medicare cover dental? What it pays in 2026, and what it does not
Medicare covers dental for one big group: children on the CDBS, capped at A$1,158 over two years from 2026. The exceptions, public dental and costs, dated.
Private health insurance rebate 2026–27: tiers, percentages and what you actually get back
The rebate percentages from 1 April 2026 for every income tier and age band, how to claim it, and the two ways people get it wrong. Checked against the ATO.
Public vs private hospital in Australia: what actually changes for the patient
Public patients waited a median 53 days on Australian elective surgery lists in 2024–25, insured patients 28. What each choice costs, in dollars, and why.
Do I need private health insurance in Australia?
The Medicare Levy Surcharge starts at A$105,000 for singles in 2026–27. The break-even arithmetic, the rebate, the loading, and when the answer is no.
Turning 31: the 1 July health insurance deadline
The Lifetime Health Cover deadline is the 1 July after your 31st birthday, not the birthday. The base day calendar to 2029, and what 2% a year costs.
Medicare levy exemption 2025–26: who qualifies, and what it is worth
The three Medicare levy exemption categories for 2025–26, what a full or half exemption is worth in dollars, and how to claim it at question M1.
Medicare levy 2025–26: who pays the 2%, and who does not
The Medicare levy is 2% of taxable income. The 2025–26 thresholds, what the levy costs in dollars, who is exempt, and why it is not the surcharge.
Lifetime Health Cover loading: the 2% a year, explained
The LHC loading adds 2% a year to a hospital premium, up to 70%. Your base day, the 1,094-day rule, the 10-year removal, and what each year costs in dollars.
Medicare Levy Surcharge 2026–27: thresholds, rates and what it costs you
The 2026–27 MLS thresholds from the ATO, what the surcharge costs at each income level, and the exact cover that removes it. Updated 17 September 2026.
4 guides
Hospital cover in Australia: what it pays, and how policies differ
What Australian hospital cover pays on a real bill in 2026–27: Medicare's 75%, the insurer's 25%, excess and co-payment maths, and the A$250 a day trap.
Private health insurance in Australia: how it works, what it costs and who it suits
Private health insurance in Australia for 2026–27: hospital, extras and ambulance, the four tiers, waiting periods, the 24.118% rebate and real dated prices.
Health insurance comparison: how to compare 30+ funds yourself
Australia has 28 registered health insurers and 33 fund names on PrivateHealth.gov.au. How to compare them yourself, with three real policies, Nov 2026.
How much does private health insurance cost in Australia?
Real 2026–27 prices for hospital and extras cover from policy statements dated 1 April 2026, the 4.41% rise, and what the rebate takes off in dollars.
14 guides
Australian Unity review 2026: cover, price and who it suits
Australian Unity raised premiums 3.98% in 2026, under the 4.41% average. What its cover costs, the Gold co-payment, and the government figures, each dated.
Health insurance premium increases by fund: every insurer's 2026 and 2025 average
The 4.41% average rise on 1 April 2026 split by insurer: all 35 funds in the government's list, 2025 and 2026, the brands behind each, and the cost in dollars.
AIA Health insurance: who owns it, and what changed for Vitality members in 2026
AIA Health returns 90.4% of contributions as benefits but draws 1.6% of complaints on a 0.5% share. What the April 2026 Vitality change is worth in dollars.
Frank health insurance: who really insures you, and what it costs in 2026
Frank is a brand of GMHBA Limited, not a separate insurer. Its 2026 rise was 1.98% against a 4.41% average. What Frank covers, pays and leaves out, dated.
GMHBA health insurance: the lowest 2026 rise, and what else the figures show
GMHBA raised premiums an average 1.98% in 2026, under half the 4.41% industry figure. What GMHBA cover costs, pays and leaves out, each figure dated.
Health Partners health insurance: is it only for South Australians?
Health Partners covers 91.0% of hospital charges and keeps 88.7% of members, above industry. Cover is Australia-wide; its clinics are SA-only. Figures dated.
Westfund health insurance: 2026 prices, cover and the record behind it
Westfund keeps 86.3% of hospital members against an 85.0% industry figure. Its 2026 prices, ambulance and extras limits, care centres and record, each dated.
ahm health insurance: a Medibank brand, and what that means for you
What ahm extras pay back, whether ambulance is capped, and why its 2026 premium rise, performance figures and privacy exposure are all Medibank's.
Bupa health insurance: what it costs, and what the Federal Court found in 2025
Bupa's 4.8% rise from 1 April 2026, its performance on the government's own figures, and the $35 million penalty the Federal Court ordered in December 2025.
HCF health insurance: what not-for-profit actually returns to members
HCF's 4.96% rise from 1 April 2026, and the government figure that tests its not-for-profit claim: 87.8% of contributions paid back as benefits.
HBF health insurance: the smallest 2026 rise, and what it costs you elsewhere
HBF raised premiums 2.15% from 1 April 2026, half the industry average. The government figures show where that shows up, and where it does not.
Medibank private health insurance: what it costs, what the government data shows
Medibank's 5.10% rise from 1 April 2026, its retention, benefits and complaints figures from the government's own data, and what the tier names do not tell you.
nib health insurance: the brands it underwrites, and what the data shows
nib's 5.47% average rise for 2026, the eight brands it underwrites including Qantas and Suncorp, and the 79.0% retention figure behind them.
Qantas Health Insurance: who actually insures you, and what the points are worth
Qantas Health Insurance is issued by nib, not by Qantas. What that means for your cover, your complaints route, and the 1 point per dollar earn rate.
3 guides
Cataract surgery in Australia: cost, wait times and the cover you need
Cataract surgery is free as a public patient after a 106-day median wait in 2024–25, 268 days in NSW. Insured patients typically paid A$480 an eye.
Hip replacement in Australia: cost, wait times and the cover you need
Public median wait for a total hip replacement was 130 days in 2024–25, 265 in NSW. Insured patients typically paid A$1,000. Cover rules and MBS fees, dated.
Knee replacement in Australia: cost, wait times and the cover you need
Public median wait for a total knee replacement was 255 days in 2024–25, 388 in the ACT. Insured patients typically paid A$1,000. Cover rules and MBS fees.
3 guides
Couples health insurance compared: one joint policy or two singles?
Couples are tested on combined income from A$210,000 in 2026–27. Real 1 April 2026 prices show a couple policy at 1.80 to 2.00 times a single.
Family health insurance compared: what children, dependants and single parents change in 2026–27
Family health insurance in 2026–27: the A$210,000 surcharge threshold plus A$1,500 a child, dependant ages on real policies, and single-parent prices.
Singles health insurance compared: what one person pays in 2026–27
Singles pay the surcharge above A$105,000 in 2026–27. One-person hospital cover from A$104.05 a month, the rebate in dollars, and the under-30 discount.
3 guides
Dental cover with no waiting period: the 11 policies and 4 offers, checked 8 November 2026
11 of 166 NSW extras policies let you claim a dental check-up with no wait on 8 Nov 2026. Which ones, which offers waive it, and why crowns wait 12 months.
Hearing aids: extras cover vs the Hearing Services Program
Pensioners can get A$0 hearing aids from the Hearing Services Program. Extras cover pays less: A$400 to A$1,200 on six policies, after waits of up to 36 months.
Dental cover compared: what seven extras policies pay for check-ups, crowns and braces
Seven NSW extras policies paid A$23.50 to A$36.65 for a dental check-up in November 2026. How limits, pools, networks and braces cover differ, per statement.
7 guides
Clinical categories: the full list and which tier covers each
All 38 hospital clinical categories from 1 October 2026: what each covers, what sits elsewhere, the lowest tier that must include it, and its MBS items.
Gap fees and out-of-pocket costs explained
Medicare pays 75% of the MBS fee, your insurer at least 25%, and you pay the rest. What no gap and known gap mean, and what insured patients pay in 2026–27.
Basic hospital cover: what it does and does not cover
Basic hospital cover must include only 3 of 38 clinical categories, on a restricted basis. What it pays, what it leaves out, and what it costs in 2026–27.
Is Gold hospital cover worth it?
Gold is the only tier that must cover 9 categories, including joint replacements and cataracts. What it costs in 2026–27, and when it is not worth it.
Silver Plus and Bronze Plus hospital cover: what Plus actually adds
Silver Plus is not a fifth tier. The rule behind the Plus label, why one Silver Plus policy adds 1 category and another 8, and how to check yours in 2026–27.
Basic hospital cover and the Medicare Levy Surcharge: what actually counts
Which hospital policies remove the Medicare Levy Surcharge in 2026–27: the A$750 excess limit, what a Basic policy must cover, and where the break-even sits.
Gold, Silver, Bronze and Basic hospital cover compared
The 38 clinical categories, the minimum tier that must cover each one, what a Plus policy really adds, and what the four tiers cost in 2026–27.
7 guides
Downgrading from Gold to Silver Plus after 65: what you keep and what you give up
Gold covers 38 categories and Silver 29. Which Silver Plus policies keep joint replacements and cataracts, what is restricted, and the 12-month wait to go back.
Over-65 private health insurance rebate change: what is proposed for April 2027
A bill before Parliament would cut the over-65 health insurance rebate to the under-65 rate from 1 April 2027: about A$80 less per A$1,000 at 70-plus. Not law.
Health insurance when you retire: what changes in the year you stop work
Retiring moves many singles from tier 2 to the base rebate tier, 8.038% to 24.118% under 65 in 2026–27, but rarely in the retirement year itself. What to check.
Health insurance for over-60s: what to check before you turn 65
In your 60s and still working? The 2026–27 surcharge starts above A$105,000, a first hospital policy at 60 carries a 60% loading, and what changes at 65.
Health insurance over 70: keep it or drop it?
Over 70 with hospital cover? The 2026–27 rebate is 32.158%, and dropping cover risks a 12-month wait and a loading on return. What each choice costs.
Health insurance for self-funded retirees: rebate, surcharge and the Seniors Health Card in 2026–27
Tax-free super pensions after 60 sit outside the rebate test, so a retiree on A$105,000 or less gets up to 32.158% back in 2026–27. The Seniors Card differs.
Switching health funds after 65: what carries across and what does not
Over 65 and switching health funds? Served waits carry across at the same level, a loading up to 70% moves with you, and the rebate stays at 28.139% or more.
7 guides
Is your old health insurance policy still worth keeping? How to tell if it is a closed product
A closed policy is no longer sold but still renewed. What the law says, why replacements were found 14% to 21% dearer, and what to check in 2026–27.
What to do when your health insurance premium increase letter arrives
Premiums rose 4.41% on 1 April 2026 and the 2027 rise is due 1 April 2027. What the letter must tell you, your increase in dollars, and the options.
Pre-existing conditions and health insurance: how the 12-month rule works
An Australian insurer can withhold hospital benefits for up to 12 months for a pre-existing condition. Who decides, what it costs, and how to dispute it.
Prepaying health insurance before the 1 April rise: limits, rebate and refunds
Funds let you prepay 12 to 18 months before the 1 April 2027 rise. Each fund's limit, the rebate tax-year rule, refunds, and what a 4.41% rise is worth.
How to switch health insurance in Australia
Switching health funds in Australia in 6 steps: the 14-day transfer certificate, the gap each fund allows, and what a gap costs in 2026–27.
Health insurance with no waiting period: what you can skip, and what you cannot
No Australian hospital policy can skip the 12-month pre-existing wait as of right. Which waits funds are waiving in October 2026, and which never go away.
Do you re-serve waiting periods when you switch health funds?
Switching at the same or a lower level of cover carries your served waiting periods across. Upgrading does not. The 2026–27 rules, priced and dated.
5 guides
Ambulance cover for pensioners and concession card holders
A Pensioner Concession Card gets a free emergency ambulance in 6 of 8 states in 2026–27. Which cards count, the SA and WA exceptions, and interstate rules.
How much does an ambulance cost without cover?
An uninsured resident's ambulance bill runs from A$131 to A$13,175 in 2026–27. Treat-only, non-emergency and air fees by state, and what if you cannot pay.
Ambulance-only cover: which funds sell it and what it costs
Ambulance-only cover costs a single A$47.40 to A$138 a year before the rebate in 2026–27. 31 policy statements by state, with waits, limits and the MLS rule.
Ambulance cover in Australia: state-by-state guide
A Queensland resident pays A$0 for an emergency ambulance; a regional Victorian pays A$2,179 in 2026–27. Every state's fee, concession and interstate rule.
Ambulance cover in NSW: who pays and who is covered
A NSW Ambulance emergency trip costs A$483 plus A$4.36 a km from 1 July 2026. Who is exempt, what health funds pay, and a worked example.
2 guides
Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC) compared: how the policies differ
OVHC policies differ on visa compliance, excess, doctors' fees and age limits. Five insurers' own published terms side by side, dated November 2026.
Visitor visa 600 health insurance: what condition 8501 requires
Condition 8501 cover must pay at least A$1,000,000 a year. What Home Affairs requires on a 600 visa, and what hospitals and ambulances bill in 2026–27.
4 guides
Lifetime Health Cover loading calculator
Work out your LHC base day, your loading on the 1 July rule the law uses, what it adds to your premium in dollars, and the date it comes off. No sign-up.
Private health insurance rebate calculator 2026–27
Work out your 2026–27 rebate tier, percentage and dollars from income, family, age and premium, with the LHC loading removed first. Checked against the ATO.
Medicare levy calculator 2025–26
Work out your 2% Medicare levy for 2025–26 in dollars, including the low-income reduction, the family test and any days you were exempt.
Medicare Levy Surcharge calculator 2026–27
Work out your 2026–27 MLS in dollars, then compare it against the cost of a compliant policy after your rebate and any Lifetime Health Cover loading.
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