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Money
Health insurance

Private health cover can be confusing and expensive. Our insurance experts are here to help you with clear, unbiased advice and smart money-saving tips.

Do you need health insurance?

Work out if paying for private health insurance is the right move for you.

Health insurance for wisdom teeth and dental surgery

How to avoid large out-of-pocket costs for your wisdom teeth surgery.
Should you drop extras health insurance?

Private health insurance is increasingly expensive and your extras health insurance may not be giving you value for money.
How to avoid out-of-pocket healthcare costs

Tips on how to get cheaper health care and negotiating with your surgeon.
How to access free mental health care

Australians can get up to 20 counselling sessions through Medicare.
How you can pay the Lifetime health Cover loading and be better off

Is there really a 'deadline' to buy health insurance after you turn 31? Here's what you need to know.
6 health insurance questions for under 30s answered

Is it worth getting private health insurance when you're still young?
Will private health insurance save you money?

Don't fall for misleading marketing – taking out cover isn't always a necessity.
Do you need health insurance for ambulance?

Young and healthy but concerned you need health cover for ambulance and accident? We examine your options.
The cheapest Basic health insurance policies to save on tax

These AHM (Medibank), HCF, Westfund and Frank policies will save you money, but don't rely on them for health cover.
Do you need health insurance to have a baby?

We compare public vs private care, and reveal the best health insurance policies for pregnancy and birth from both open and restricted health funds.
Lifetime health cover for migrants

You'll pay a price if you take out health insurance too late.

Buying guide

What is private health insurance?
Get an overview of private health insurance in Australia, including how it works and when you should consider it. Our experts look at:

• hospital cover and how it works
• extras cover and how it works
• taxes and other financial reasons to have cover
Health insurance explained

Review, switch and save

How to review your health cover and save money.

HBF members need to act now

Private health fund HBF will increase insurance premiums on 1 April 2022.
Save up to $935 by switching health insurance

Save money, time and confusion with our expert advice and policy comparison tool.
What to know about premium increases

Some health funds, including Medibank, Bupa, NIB and HCF, have delayed their increase until later in the year.
5 steps to better, cheaper health insurance

With many premiums set to increase in April, here's how you can secure a cheaper price for your health cover and save money.
How to switch health insurance

Review your health cover, switch and save.
'I saved $1800 by switching my private health insurance'

CHOICE writer Pru Engel didn't pay much attention to her health insurance payments... till she was about to get ripped off.
Health insurance savings: we find three people better policies for less

How CHOICE experts helped Anna save $1797 on health insurance cover.

Avoid rip-off health cover

Did you know some Bronze policies cost more than Silver policies? Steer clear of these poor-value options.

Is Basic health insurance for tax a waste of money?

Basic policies from Medibank, Bupa and HCF can help with tax, but are they value for money?
Do you have one of these overpriced Bronze health cover policies?

Australia's most expensive Bronze health insurance policies.
Dump these rip-off Silver Plus health insurance policies

Many Silver and Silver Plus hospital policies cost more than some Gold policies but provide less cover.
Are you paying too much for Gold health insurance?

Dump these overpriced Gold policies and lock in better cover.
Bad health insurance deals: Medibank, Bupa, HCF, HBF, NIB

We name poor-value health insurance policies from the big private health funds.

Finding the right cover

Our experts help you find the best health insurance for your stage of life.

How to find the best health insurance for young and healthy singles and couples

Eager for extras or just want to avoid tax? Here's our guide to shopping for the best health cover.
How to choose the best health insurance for seniors

Our insurance expert explains how to get the right cover for your needs and budget.
How to choose the best health insurance for single-parent families

Expert tips to help you find the best-value cover for you and your kids.
How to find the best health insurance for families

Get useful tips for choosing the right health cover for your family.
The cheapest Basic health insurance policies to save on tax

These AHM (Medibank), HCF, Westfund and Frank policies will save you money, but don't rely on them for health cover.
Should you choose Gold, Silver or Bronze?

We help you decide which of the four health insurance tiers is best for your needs.

Extras insurance

Extras covers things outside hospital like optical, dental, orthodontics, physio, podiatry and psychology services.

How to find the best extras health insurance policy

What type of health cover do you need? And do you need it at all?
Best health insurance extras

Our extras recommendations can help you find the best value policy, the best cover on a budget, and the best policy for seniors.
How much does the dentist cost?

And is there anything you can do to reduce your dental costs?
Tips to save on extras insurance

How to get the best value cover for extras like dental, optical and physio.
Guide to buying orthodontic braces and aligners

There are lots of different options for braces, but a good practitioner is the key to success.
Bad value extras health insurance

Is it worth paying for a top-shelf extras policy?

Health care and COVID-19

What to know about private health cover and medical care in the midst of a pandemic.

Elective surgery during the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 outbreaks and lockdowns have led to long waiting lists for elective surgeries like hip replacements and cataract operations.
Do you need health insurance for COVID-19?

How to save on health insurance if you can't use it during a lockdown.
Telehealth and other online e-health services

What are your options when you can't get to the doctor?
Medibank Private and Bupa fail during COVID-19

Private health insurers named and shamed for poor COVID-19 support.
Health funds' responses to coronavirus: the good, the bad, and the unclear

Private health insurers have taken steps to support people financially affected by the pandemic, but we’re pushing for more.

How the funds rate

Find out how our experts rate funds on out-of-pocket costs, fund complaints and more.

The good and the bad of Medibank, Bupa, HBF, HCF and NIB

The five big health funds compared on complaints, discounts and cost.
Australia's most complained about health insurance funds

We reveal the funds with the worst overall complaints ratings.
Three things you might not know about small health insurers

Why it can pay to go with the fund you've never heard of.

Funds

We look at the ins and outs of more than 36 private health insurers.

Teachers Health

How Teachers Health rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
Bupa

How Bupa rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
Medibank

How Medibank rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
Australian Unity

How Australian Unity Health rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
ACA

How ACA Health rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
CBHS corporate

How CBHS Corporate Health rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance cover.
CDH

How Hunter Health Insurance rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance cover.
CUA

How CUA Health rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
Emergency services health

How Emergency Services Health rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance cover.
Frank

How Frank rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
Health Partners

How Health Partners rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
Health Care

How Health Care Insurance rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance cover.
Health.com.au

How Health.com.au rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
Kogan
Latrobe Health Services

How Latrobe Health Services rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
Nurses & Midwives Health

How Nurses & Midwives Health rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance cover.
Mildura Health

How Mildura Health Fund rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance cover.
AIA

aia health insurance
Navy Health

How Navy Health rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
Phoenix

How Phoenix Health Fund rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
Police Health

How Police Health rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
Qantas

How Qantas health insurance rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
Queensland Country Health

How Queensland Country Health Fund rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
RACQ

RACQ health insurance
RT Health

How RT Health rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance cover.
Transport Health

How Transport Health rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
TUH Health

How TUH rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
Westfund Health

How Westfund rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
HCF

How HCF rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
NIB

How NIB rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
HBF

How HBF rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
AHM

How AHM rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
GMHBA

How GMHBA rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
Defence Health

How Defence Health rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
CBHS Health Fund

How CBHS rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
Doctors' Health Fund

How Doctors' Health Fund rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
HIF

How HIF rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
Peoplecare

How Peoplecare rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance.
St.LukesHealth

How St.LukesHealth rates for member complaints, gap cover and ambulance cover.