Best Health Insurance in Australia 2026

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Best Health Insurance

We list the best health insurance funds in Australia based on benefits, customer satisfaction and more.
Let our experts find your best health insurance options fast, among the 20+ funds we compare.

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Best health insurance guide compiled by our experts. Updated 1 May 2026.

Best health insurance Australia

8 weeks free

On combined Hospital and Extras cover

Plus, skip 2 & 6-month waiting periods on Extras. Offer available when you join as a new member on an eligible combined Hospital and Extras policy. You need to maintain cover until 29 July 2026 to receive the 8 weeks free. Offer ends 31 May 2026. T&Cs apply.*

8 weeks free

On combined Hospital and Extras cover

Join Australian Unity through Money.com.au on eligible products and get 8 weeks free (6 weeks free in year 1, plus 2 weeks free in year 2). New members only. Offer ends 30 June 2026. T&Cs apply.*

6 weeks free

On combined Hospital and Extras cover

Plus, skip 2 & 6-month waiting periods on Extras. Offer available when you join as a new member on an eligible combined Hospital and Extras policy. Offer excludes Extras-only and Hospital-only policies. Offer ends 26 July 2026. T&Cs apply.*

Skip 2 & 6 month waits

On eligible Extras services

Offer available when you join as a new member on a combined Hospital and Extras policy. Offer excludes Extras-only and Hospital-only policies. Offer ends 31 Aug 2026. T&Cs apply.*

Skip 2 & 6 month waits

On eligible Extras services

Offer available when you join as a new member on a combined Hospital and Extras policy. Offer excludes Extras-only and Hospital-only policies. Offer ends 31 Aug 2026. T&Cs apply.*

Receive a $200 gift card

With combined Hospital & Extras cover

Offer available when you join as a new member on a combined Hospital and Extras policy by 31 May 2026. T&Cs apply.*

HIF Health Insurance

Skip 2-month waits

On eligible Extras cover

Plus, skip 2-month waiting periods on Extras. Offer is only available to a person who purchases an eligible product and opts to pay by direct debit for fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, or six-monthly. Offer ends 30 June 2026. T&Cs apply.*

Best health insurance in Australia

The best private health insurance policy will be different depending on who the policy is for and what they value in their cover. But to give you an idea of how various providers compare, we’ve rounded up the top health funds in Australia based on a selection of factors that matter to consumers.

Note, the tables below are based on all open health funds in Australia (those available to anyone). Some of the funds shown are not part of Money.com.au's partner insurer panel. Also bear in mind that no single indicator should be used as a measure of an insurer’s overall performance.

Small, not-for-profit health fund, Onemedifund performs best when it comes to customer loyalty in the latest Ombudsman data, with 93.2% of members staying with the fund for more than two years.

Health fund	Member retention (hospital cover)
Onemedifund	93.2%
CDH (Hunter Health Insurance)	89.5%
Mildura District Hospital Fund	89.4%
Health Partners	88.7%
HBF Health	88.4%

Source: Latest Commonwealth Ombudsman State of the Health Funds Report.

AIA Health comes out on top as the fund that pays the highest percentage of members’ premiums back in claims.

Health fund	Benefits as % of contributions
AIA Health	90.4%
HCF	87.8%
Health Partners	87.2%
Phoenix Health Fund	87.0%
Medibank	85.6%

Source: Latest Commonwealth Ombudsman State of the Health Funds Report.

Newcastle-based Hunter Health Insurance is the fund that covers the highest portion of private hospital bills for its customers on average.

Health fund	% Hospital related charges covered
Hunter Health Insurance	93.8%
HBF Health	91.1%
Health Partners	91.0%
Onemedifund	90.8%
Mildura District Hospital Fund	90.7%

Source: Latest Commonwealth Ombudsman State of the Health Funds Report.

Major fund, NIB, performs best for covering the highest percentage of dental, physio, optical and other Extras costs on average.

Health fund	% Extras charges covered
NIB Health Funds	58.0%
Health Partners	54.6%
St Lukes Health	54.5%
Phoenix Health Fund	53.6%
HBF Health	52.3%

Source: Latest Commonwealth Ombudsman State of the Health Funds Report.

RT Health, Queensland Country Health Fund (owned by HBF) and Phoenix Health jointly have the best overall customer review ratings among health insurers in Australia.

Health fund	Customer rating
RT Health	4.9 (1,474 reviews)
Queensland Country Health Fund	4.9 (473 reviews)
Phoenix Health Fund	4.9 (436 reviews)
AIA Health Insurance	4.7 (1,290 reviews)
Westfund Health Insurance	4.6 (430 reviews)

These are the private health funds with the highest overall customer ratings based on Productreview.com.au customer reviews. We have analysed the customer reviews of a wide selection of health funds, but we do not guarantee that all funds have been considered.

Small open fund, Onemedifund, recorded no measurable share of Ombudsman complaints despite accounting for 0.1% of the market. Of the larger health funds, HBF still stands out has having a low level of customer complaints relative to its share of the market.

Full Name	Complaints Share	Market Share
Onemedifund	0.0%	0.1%
Mildura District Hospital Fund	0.1%	0.3%
St Lukes Health	0.2%	0.6%
Health Partners	0.3%	0.6%
HBF Health	4.4%	7.9%

Source: Latest Commonwealth Ombudsman State of the Health Funds Report.

Larger funds tend to top the list when it comes to bonus offers for new customers, but offers change frequently and tend to be most competitive around March and April each year.

Health fund	Current incentive
ahm	Up to 12 weeks free
HBF	Up to 12 weeks free
ING Health Insurance	9 weeks free
Australian Seniors	9 weeks free
AAMI, Apia, Australian Unity, Bupa, Health Partners, nib, Suncorp, Westfund	8 weeks free

Based on funds analysed by Money.com.au offering the highest number of weeks free as at May 2026. Incentives are only for eligible new customers who join on a combined Hospital and Extras policy. Offers are subject to change. Terms and conditions apply - check these with the provider.

What’s the best health insurance option overall?

As the tables above demonstrate, different health insurers perform best in different categories. So the unsatisfactory, but honest, answer to the question is that there is no single best health insurance fund or option in Australia.

There will, however, be a best option for each individual. Whether you get expert help or compare health insurance providers yourself, it’s important to not be swayed by any single factor (a sign up offer, the cheapest premium, the insurer your parents use).

To help guide your decision, here are the factors we think matter most when you’re deciding which policy will be best:

How to find the best health insurance policy

Medical and Dental Loans with Money Matchmaker

Inclusions: At a basic level, it’s important to find a health insurance policy that covers what you need it to, both now and in the future. Pay close attention to what conditions are covered and what’s excluded
Limits: Particularly on Extras cover, there will likely be annual limits on how much you can claim for a particular treatment category. The limits on your policy could well impact how much you can get back in benefits and the value you get from your policy, so it’s important to check these carefully.
Premiums: This is simply the cost of your health insurance. When comparing health insurance premiums, make sure you’re looking at policies that are at the same level. A cheaper policy on the face of it may simply have less comprehensive cover. It’s worth looking out for health insurance sign up offers that could save you money on your premiums.
Excess level: Depending on the policy and your insurer you may have the ability to change the excess that applies to Hospital policies. This is the amount you need to pay out of pocket when you make a claim. Having a higher excess (up to a maximum of $750 per person) will make your premium cheaper.
Extra perks: Most insurers offer additional services and perks, like health and wellbeing programs, rewards programs and discounts at partner brands (e.g. gyms and certain retailers). Some providers waive waiting periods on Extras as a perk for new customers.
Customer service: Checking online reviews can be a good way of getting an idea of the level of service a provider offers its customers. Being with a provider that offers a wide range of communication methods (phone, website, app etc.) can be a benefit too. Not-for-profit health funds tend to have better customer satisfaction scores, but it varies a lot between individual funds.

Best-selling health insurance policies in Australia

If you’re really not sure where to start, the data shows most Australians choose a combined Hospital and Extras policy, with mid-range Hospital cover.

According to data from the Private Health Insurance Intermediaries Association, in the last year:

76.3% of all policies sold were combined cover (Hospital + Extras)

13.0% were Hospital-only

10.6% were Extras-only

Silver Plus was the most popular Hospital tier (32.1%)

Bronze Plus was the second most popular choice overall (29.5%) and the most common option for those getting cover for the first time

Gold tier policies made up just 2% of all Hospital policy sales, with those aged 30-34 the most likely to purchase the top level of cover (likely due in part to the pregnancy and birth cover included which could suit this age group)

How Australians decide on the best health fund for them

Money.com.au asked 1,000 Australians about their approach to deciding on the best health insurance.

A third of respondents (33.7%) said they check reviews sometimes, usually when they’re unsure about a health fund. A quarter (25%) said they always check reviews before signing up. Nearly another quarter (24.7%) reported that they stick with the same fund out of habit, while 16.6% rely on comparison websites or word of mouth.

Meet the Aussies who found their best cover options with Money.com.au

"So helpful! Saved me a bunch of time and money. Thankyou for your assistance and efficiency."

Zoe Vardy1 month ago

"I had a really great experience with money.com. The entire process was super straightforward and easy to follow, which made everything feel stress-free from start to finish. The customer service was incredible. The team was friendly, helpful, and always willing to answer any questions I had. They were also very responsive, which I really appreciated. On top of that, the pricing was excellent and very competitive. I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a smooth and reliable experience."

Bianca1 month ago

"money.com.au made changing my insurance policy incredibly easy and stress-free, guiding me through every step with clear and helpful information. Nick saved me time and helped me find a better deal with confidence! "

Maddy1 month ago

"Explained everything really well,treated me like I mattered an just got the job done👍"

Jason Wyvill1 month ago

"AHHHHH! After receiving yet another policy price increase letter, I knew it was time to review my health insurance for a good-value, cost-effective policy that actually suited my needs and requirements. Thank goodness for Charles at money.com.au! He was understanding, knowledgeable, friendly and so easy to talk to. He took the time to really listen and understand what I was using in my current policy and what I actually needed moving forward. Not only did Charles listen - he delivered! He found me a policy that halved my current premium. I’m more $150 per month better off due his recommendations. I couldn’t be happier with the outcome. Thank you so much Charles and money.com.au - I’m absolutely delighted. Highly recommend!!!"

Chris1 month ago

"The health fund advisor's recommendation suited our needs and found a Health Fund which gave us better benefits than the major funds eg. HCF etc. The RT Health Fund is owned by HCF but has better features for our requirements. This occurred because the advisor had 12 years knowledge in this industry. "

Peter1 month ago

"Cameron at Money.com.au did an amazing job with our health insurance comparison and helped us switch over to a better deal. He made the whole process quick and easy and explained everything clearly so we knew exactly what was changing. Couldn’t have been happier with the service!"

Carolyn1 month ago

"Nic provided me with clear and concise advice and options so the task was made as simple and painless as is possible. Cannot rate his expertise and demeanour highly enough. Thank you Nic for making this an unexpectedly easy task."

Glen Williamson1 month ago

"they called me in less than 20 minutes after I filled a form requesting for their assistance. the representative Charlie Capps was very polite, courteous and always willing to answer all my questions and most importantly they got me a way better deal too to save money. waiting on that to materialize "

Richard Work1 month ago

"Was so easy when I signed up they did everything for me but explained everything in good detail saved me a lot of time shout out to Ben thanks mate !"

Tom1 month ago

"Nicholas showed great depth of knowledge about the various health insurers. Clear, concise explaining. "

Mari2 months ago

"Charlie made the process of switching easy ! He compared what I currently had and asked me the right questions to ensure I was getting the right cover. He was prompt and called when he said he would call. Would definitely recommend ! "

Natalie Zulian2 months ago

"Nick was easy to talk to and found a much better policy with bigger rebates and $60 less per month. Also I'll get 6 weeks free. Very happy with result, would not hesitate using this service again."

Stephanie Davies2 months ago

"Navigating best personalized option for the health insurance industry is daunting, difficult and so frustrating. Ben was terrific in tailoring a better outcome for us - only a few hundred dollars but as self funded retirees, it was a good result."

Brian Leis2 months ago

"Ben was fabulous. He really went above and beyond and nothing was too much. He was honest in all areas. 100% recommend. Thanks again Ben, you absolutely made the decision easy."

Talia Hull2 months ago

"Thank you Nick, for a very easy find and change over to a new health fund. Your expertise and knowledge was greatly appreciated.You were so helpful answering all my concerns. I am so happy that I spoke to you today. I am now saving $50 a week compared to my previous policy. Thank you."

Jan E Jackson2 months ago

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Sean Callery

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*Featured offer T&Cs

See the full terms and conditions for all featured offers. View T&Cs.

General information only

The information on this page is general in nature and has been prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the information provided and the nature of any product is suitable for you and seek independent advice if necessary.

We do not compare all health insurance providers and products available in Australia and we do not guarantee that our product comparisons include all product features and attributes relevant to you.

In providing general information on this page, we are not providing you with a recommendation or suggestion about a particular product. You should read the relevant disclosure statements or other offer documents before deciding whether to apply for or continue to use a particular product.

However, when a customer requests that we contact them regarding health insurance, after being on the Money.com.au website, we will take the information they provide into account when providing the customer with a range of health insurance product options.

How we provide personalised health insurance comparisons

We have partnered with The ItsMy Group (ABN 85 167 289 965) to form our panel of health insurance providers. If a Money.com.au insurance advisor helps you find a more suitable product and you join that health insurer, IMG receive a payment from that fund, which they pass on to us. This is normally a one-off fee but it can also be paid in increments over time.

There is no charge to consumers to use the service, and any payment we receive does not change the price you pay for the product. Our health insurance advisors do not know how much we are paid by the fund they recommend.

Both Money.com.au and The ItsMy Group are members of the Private Health Insurance Intermediaries Association (“PHIIA”) and are have signed up to the PHIIA Code of Conduct.

Which brands do we compare?

Our customers have access to offers from a range of health insurance partners:

AHM

AIA Health

Australian Unity

Australian Seniors

Bupa

Frank Health Insurance

GMHBA

HBF

HCF

Health Care Insurance

Health Partners

HIF

Hunter Health Insurance

Navy Health

NIB

Peoplecare

Phoenix Health

Real Insurance

RT Health

See-u by HBF

Seniors Health

Teachers Health

TUH Health Fund

Union Health

Please note, we do not compare all health funds in the market, or all policies from our partner funds, and at times certain funds or products might be unavailable.

Dispute Resolution and Complaints

At Money.com.au, we aim to provide you with the highest level of service, but we also understand that occasionally you may not be 100% happy with us. If that’s the case, you can let us know by emailing us at support@money.com.au

If we can’t resolve your issue immediately, a senior manager will respond to you at the latest by the next business day from receipt of your enquiry. If we are still unable to resolve the matter within three days, it will be escalated to the attention of the CEO.

You could also contact your health fund or the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman’s office (PHIO):

For general information about private health insurance, see https://www.privatehealth.gov.au/

To make a complaint, contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman at www.ombudsman.gov.au

Speak to a Health Expert

Our Australian-based call centre is open weekdays between 9am and 5pm (AEST) with our team of experts ready to help!

You can reach us on 1300 001 359 or (02) 8528 1995.