If you decide private hospital cover is worth it, here's where to compare. We don't sell insurance and we don't pick a winner for you.
We list these comparison services equally and never rank them. We may earn a referral fee only from the service shown under "Where we may earn a referral fee" — and even then it never changes the price you pay. We are not paid to feature the others, and we don't receive anything if you use them. We don't sell insurance, we don't pick a winner, and we never see your policy. That's the whole arrangement.
Each of these compares hospital cover across a panel of Australian funds. Pick whichever you prefer — they're shown with no order or ranking implied.
If you take out cover through this service, it may pay us a referral fee. It never changes the price you pay, and we don't rank it above the others.
We list these because they're useful, not because we're paid to. We receive nothing if you use them.
Every hospital policy in Australia falls into one of four government tiers. Knowing them means you can compare like-for-like — not just on price.
The minimum hospital cover. Limited inclusions, lowest price — and enough to remove the surcharge and stop your LHC loading growing.
Covers more clinical categories — think joint reconstructions, hernias, some mental health.
Broader again, adding things like heart procedures and lung surgery.
The most comprehensive — covers all clinical categories, including pregnancy and joint replacements.
A few things the comparison sites don't always put front and centre.
Re-serving waiting periods. Switching to an equal-or-lower tier usually carries waiting periods over. Jumping up a tier can re-start them.
Keep cover continuous. A gap of more than 1,094 days can re-apply your Lifetime Health Cover loading.
Start before 1 July. Holding cover for part of the year reduces the surcharge for the days you're covered.
Check what's actually included. Two "Bronze" policies can differ — compare the clinical categories, not just the price.
Watch the excess. A higher excess lowers the premium but you pay more if you're admitted.
You don't have to switch. If the surcharge doesn't apply to you, cover may not be worth it. Information, not a nudge.