Private Health Insurance

Do you need it, how much does it cost and where to compare policies…

If you are making plans to move to Australia, applying for health insurance is an important part of the process. Aside from that, it’s always a good idea to prepare for the unexpected.

In Australia, the public health system Medicare covers most Australian residents for health care. However, Medicare does not cover everything and you can choose to take out private health insurance to give yourself a wider range of health care options and more comprehensive cover.

There are two types of health insurance: hospital & general treatment (ancillary or extras). You can buy them separately or most funds offer combined policies. There will be limitations on what and when you can claim with any policy you buy.

Medicare Australia

For information on Medicare, including how to apply, what your entitled to, costs of healthcare and more, please visit my Medicare Australia post.

Do you have health insurance in NZ?

For the same reasons you should get health insurance in Australia

Australian residents are proactively encouraged to take out Private Health Cover (Health Insurance) to compliment Medicare services, including the 30% Health Insurance Rebate from the Australia Government.

How much does Health Insurance cost in Australia?

Health insurance costs approximately $2,000 per year depending on your circumstances (single, couple, family or single parent) and the level of cover you select.

Compare Policies

To allow for simpler comparison of health insurance products all Australian health insurers are required by law to provide details of each of their products to the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman. PrivateHealth.gov.au contains details of every health insurance policy available in Australia, as well as its Private Health Information Statement.

This government website gives you facts that are not bias or trying to sell you anything! It gives you comprehensive, independent private health insurance information.

Search tips

• All you need is who is covered, where you live, and the type of cover you want.
• Selecting specific hospital services or general treatments will provide more tailored results but will take a bit longer.
• It’s worth looking at the restricted insurers to see if you qualify for any of them. It could save you money.
• Click or tap on the icon for more information.

Start comparing policies here.

You might be interested in…

The below posts might interest you:

• Medicare Australia
• Having a baby in Australia
• Can a NZ citizen get an Australian benefit or pension?

Still got unanswered questions?

Ask them below in the comment section and I will get back to you asap. You might also find the answers in the questions other visitors have asked.