Singles Health Insurance

What is Singles health insurance? 

In Australia, Singles health insurance is private health cover for one adult.

You have the option of taking out:

• Hospital Cover
• Extras Cover
• Combined Hospital and Extras Cover
• Ambulance Only Cover.

Singles Health Insurance differs from Single Parent health insurance, Couples health insurance and Family health insurance because there is only one person covered on the policy.

The advantage of Singles health insurance over Couples health insurance is you can tailor the policy specifically to your individual needs.  

For this reason, it sometimes makes sense for a couple to take out 2 Singles policies, but if it is the same cover it is worth checking the premium.  

Every private health insurer in Australia offers health insurance policies for one adult. 

---

How much does Singles health insurance cost?  

For one adult (per month): 

• The cheapest Hospital Cover ranges from around $38 in the NT to $101 in NSW. 

• Extras Cover starts at between $11.45 for the NT up to $15.55 in most other states and territories for the lowest cover. 

• Basic Combined Hospital and Extras Cover starts from between $55.75 in NT up to $120.90 in QLD. 

Key factors affecting the cost of Singles health insurance

The cost of a policy covering one adult depends on the tier of Hospital Cover and/or extent of Extras Cover, where you live, excess payable and any co-payments:

• Tier of Hospital Cover: 
  • Basic Cover 
  • Bronze Cover
  • Silver Cover 
  • Gold Cover. 
• Extent of Extras Cover 

• Where you live. You pay more if: 
  • you live in a state or territory where there is a higher rate of claims 
  • your state or territory charges more for hospital services. 

• Higher excess: applies if you want to pay this in exchange for a lower premium. 

• Co-payment: applies if you want to make a contribution for every day you are in hospital in exchange for a lower premium. 

Other factors that could impact your premium 

If government incentives and penalties apply to you, these will impact how much you pay for your policy. These are partly determined by: 

• Your age: 
  • If you are 18-29, you may be eligible for the Age-based Discount, which means you can save up to 10% per year on Hospital Cover.  
  • If you have not taken out Hospital Cover before the age of 31, you may have to pay the Lifetime Health Cover Loading, which is 2% per year for every year you have not taken out cover.  

• Your income. If your income is $151,000 or less, you may be eligible for the Private Health Insurance Rebate, which gives you a premium reduction on: 
  • Hospital Cover 
  • Extras Cover 
  • Ambulance Cover. 

If your income is over $97,000 per year and you do not have Hospital Cover, you may have to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge. 

---

What is the best Singles health insurance?  

To find the best Singles Health Insurance for your family, ask yourself these 10 questions:

Q 1:	What do you want from your health insurance?  Are you currently fit and healthy and just want the basics?  Do you only want health insurance to reduce your tax bill?  Do you have a pre-existing condition?  What is your family history of health conditions?
Q 2:	How old are you? Are you young and healthy? You may want: the most basic level of Hospital Cover to minimise your tax  affordable Hospital Cover and/or Extras Cover that covers your key health needs.  Are you middle aged? You may want: a higher level of Hospital Cover in case something goes wrong  Extras Cover that helps you maintain your health and wellbeing. Are you an older person? You may want: the highest level of Gold Hospital Cover or a Silver Plus Cover that excludes obstetrics in case something goes wrong  a high level of Extras Cover to preserve your health and help you pay for health services that Medicare does not cover.
Q 3:	What type of health insurance do you need? Hospital Cover  Extras Cover  Combined Hospital and Extras Cover  Ambulance Only Cover.
Q 4:	If you want Hospital Cover, what level do you need?  Basic or Basic Plus Bronze or Bronze Plus Silver or Silver Plus  Gold.
Q 5:	If you want Extras Cover, what treatments do you need and are likely to use?   There is no point taking out Extras Cover if you are not going to use it.
Q 6:	For Extras Cover, what are the claim limits, annual limits or lifetime limits on the policy?
Q 7:	What is your budget?   Does the cover you selected fit within your budget? Are you eligible for the Private Health Insurance Rebate?  Are you eligible for the Age-based Discount?  Will you have to pay the Lifetime Health Cover Loading?
Q 8:	Will you have to pay an excess if you make a claim on Hospital Cover?   How much is the excess? Will you be able to afford the excess if you make a claim?  Will you have to pay out-of-pocket fees, such as medical and hospital Gaps?
Q 9:	Will you have to make a co-payment if you make a claim on your Hospital Cover and, if so, can you afford it?
Q 10:	Check what are the waiting periods before you can make a claim for any policy you are considering.

---

What is the best health insurance for a young single? 

When you are young and healthy, you may want to take out a low level of health insurance only. 

This could mean you decide to take out a lower tier of Hospital Cover. 

Here are some examples of how it works: 

---

What is the best health insurance for singles over 50?

As you get older, you may want to take out a higher level of Hospital Cover and additional Extras Cover. 

While Medicare and the public health system is well equipped to deal with acute health issues, you will find yourself on a waiting list for anything categorised as non-acute or elective.  

The advantage of having Hospital Cover as you get older is that, if you need elective surgery or other treatments, you can enter the private system and: 

• avoid waiting lists 

• select your doctor rather than have the hospital allocate a doctor to your case. 

Here are some examples of how it works: 

---

What is the best health insurance for retired singles?

Once you retire, you may have assets like your family home and other investments, but your income drops significantly. 

At the same time, your health needs are increasing and you may be worried about the long public waiting lists for non-acute or elective procedures or treatments. 

Here are some examples of how it works: 

---

How can I compare health insurance for singles?

Use our free Calculator to find the best and cheapest health insurance policy for you. You can also compare your existing policy against other relevant policies currently in the market. 

We compare every insurer and every policy, with no commercial bias, and guarantee you the cheapest policy. 

You can also calculate whether you: 

• can save on your health insurance because you are eligible for the Private Health Insurance Rebate and/or the Age-based Discount 

• have to pay the Lifetime Health Cover Loading.