The short answer
Private health insurance premiums rose by an average of 4.41% on 1 April 2026, the average the government approved across all insurers. The prices insurers filed tell a different story for Gold hospital cover:
The 4.41% is an average across each insurer's whole book, weighted by how many people hold each policy. It isn't a cap on any one policy. An insurer can raise one level of cover far above its average as long as others rise by less, and in 2026 that's what happened to Gold.
These figures come from the price statements insurers file with the government for every policy they sell, comparing each policy's price in the March 2026 release with the April release. Each figure is a median across policies as filed, one policy in one state for one kind of household, so it isn't weighted by membership the way the official average is.
By level of hospital cover
The rise on the hospital part of each policy, by its level of cover:
| Cover | Policies | Median rise | Median for a single | Rose 10% or more | Cut |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 1,911 | 9.9% | 12.9% | 953 | 49 |
| Silver | 1,204 | 5.9% | 4.7% | 269 | 78 |
| Bronze Plus | 4,550 | 4.2% | 4.0% | 422 | 122 |
| Silver Plus | 12,711 | 4.0% | 4.0% | 1,173 | 109 |
| Bronze | 1,608 | 4.0% | 3.5% | 244 | 3 |
| Basic Plus | 3,135 | 3.7% | 3.6% | 98 | 56 |
| Basic | 1,529 | 2.5% | 2.5% | 196 | 88 |
Gold is the only level that covers all 38 categories of hospital treatment, pregnancy, joint replacements and dialysis among them.
Gold cover, insurer by insurer
The median rise on each insurer's Gold hospital cover, beside the average the government approved for its whole book:
- Approved average, whole book
- 4.96%
- Gold, median rise
- 25.0%
- Gold for a single
- 25.0%, +$1,273
- Everything else, median
- 3.4%
- Approved average, whole book
- 1.98%
- Gold, median rise
- 16.0%
- Gold for a single
- 16.0%, +$718
- Everything else, median
- 1.0%
- Approved average, whole book
- 4.25%
- Gold, median rise
- 14.9%
- Gold for a single
- 15.0%, +$514
- Everything else, median
- 8.0%
- Approved average, whole book
- 5.47%
- Gold, median rise
- 14.6%
- Gold for a single
- 14.6%, +$807
- Everything else, median
- 3.7%
- Approved average, whole book
- 3.98%
- Gold, median rise
- 13.9%
- Gold for a single
- 13.9%, +$608
- Everything else, median
- 4.3%
- Approved average, whole book
- 4.8%
- Gold, median rise
- 10.5%
- Gold for a single
- 10.5%, +$497
- Everything else, median
- 3.0%
- Approved average, whole book
- 5.1%
- Gold, median rise
- 8.7%
- Gold for a single
- 8.7%, +$306
- Everything else, median
- 4.4%
- Approved average, whole book
- 2.15%
- Gold, median rise
- 7.9%
- Gold for a single
- 7.9%, +$348
- Everything else, median
- 0.0%
- Approved average, whole book
- 3.26%
- Gold, median rise
- 7.6%
- Gold for a single
- 7.6%, +$341
- Everything else, median
- 0.0%
- Approved average, whole book
- 3.94%
- Gold, median rise
- 6.4%
- Gold for a single
- 15.0%, +$708
- Everything else, median
- 5.2%
| Insurer | Approved average, whole book | Gold, median rise | Gold for a single | Everything else, median | Page |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HCF | 4.96% | 25.0% | 25.0%, +$1,273 | 3.4% | View insurer |
GMHBA | 1.98% | 16.0% | 16.0%, +$718 | 1.0% | View insurer |
St.LukesHealth | 4.25% | 14.9% | 15.0%, +$514 | 8.0% | View insurer |
nib | 5.47% | 14.6% | 14.6%, +$807 | 3.7% | View insurer |
Australian Unity | 3.98% | 13.9% | 13.9%, +$608 | 4.3% | View insurer |
Bupa | 4.8% | 10.5% | 10.5%, +$497 | 3.0% | View insurer |
Medibank | 5.1% | 8.7% | 8.7%, +$306 | 4.4% | View insurer |
HBF | 2.15% | 7.9% | 7.9%, +$348 | 0.0% | View insurer |
Westfund | 3.26% | 7.6% | 7.6%, +$341 | 0.0% | View insurer |
Health Partners | 3.94% | 6.4% | 15.0%, +$708 | 5.2% | View insurer |
"Gold for a single" is the median rise on the hospital part of a single's Gold policy, and what it adds a year before the government rebate. Health Partners' Gold cover rose 6.4% across all households but 15% for singles. ahm is a Medibank brand, and Qantas Insurance is sold by nib; their policies are counted under their own names here.
Not every policy rose
1,182 policies were cut in April 2026, counting extras and combined cover, and 1,455 stayed the same. Three insurers made most of the cuts:
AIA had the highest approved average of any insurer, 5.98%, and its rises fell hardest on families. Across its policies, a single parent's price went from 1.65 times a single's to 1.83 times at the median, and 952 of its family and single-parent policies rose by more than 25%. Its singles' and couples' policies rose by much less.
What happens in 2027
Insurers apply to the government for next year's rises late in the year. The Health Minister announces the approved average and each insurer's figure, usually in February, and the new prices start on 1 April. BankMate will update this page with the 2027 averages when they're announced, and with each policy's filed rise once the April 2027 statements are published.
To see what policies cost your household today, compare health insurance on your own answers, or see the cheapest Gold hospital cover.
Sources
Policy prices: the Private Health Information Statements insurers file with the government, published by PrivateHealth.gov.au on data.gov.au, releases of 1 March and 5 April 2026, policies open to anyone. Approved averages: the Minister for Health's announcement of February 2026, as listed by SBS News. For an independent read of the same rises, see CHOICE's analysis, which found Gold policies at the five largest funds up 13.3% on average.
Factual comparison, not financial advice. BankMate doesn’t consider your objectives, financial situation or needs, and isn’t licensed to give advice. Read the provider’s PDS, target market determination or key facts sheet before deciding.