Utilities
EnergyInternetSolarMobileInsurance
Car InsuranceHome InsuranceHealth InsuranceSingles CoverCouples CoverFamily CoverPregnancy CoverSeniors CoverHospital CoverExtras CoverHospital & ExtrasAmbulance CoverLife InsuranceIncome ProtectionBusiness InsuranceTravel InsurancePet InsuranceOverseas Visitor CoverMoney
LoansCredit CardsA singles policy covers one adult. For most single people the decision comes down to two tax rules rather than to healthcare — whether you earn enough to attract the Medicare Levy Surcharge, and whether you are approaching the age at which delaying cover starts to cost you permanently.
Get those two right and the healthcare question becomes much simpler, because you are then choosing how much cover you want rather than whether to hold any at all.
If you earn above the surcharge threshold and do not hold hospital cover, the ATO adds a surcharge to your tax at between 1% and 1.5% of income depending on which band you fall into. For a lot of single earners just over the line, a basic hospital policy costs less than the surcharge would, which means holding cover is cheaper than not holding it even if you never claim. Thresholds are reviewed regularly, so check the current figures with the ATO before relying on this.
Lifetime Health Cover loading adds 2% to your hospital premium for every year you delay taking cover beyond 1 July following your 31st birthday, up to a maximum of 70%. It is not a one-off penalty — it stays attached to your premium until you have held continuous cover for ten years. Taking out even a basic policy before that birthday locks in the base rate permanently.
Singles have the widest genuine choice of tier because there is no dependant to plan around. If cover is primarily a tax decision, Basic or Bronze usually does the job. If you play sport, a Bronze tier with joint reconstruction becomes worth more than the price difference. Pregnancy and birth sits in Gold only, which is worth knowing well before it becomes relevant given the twelve-month wait.
If you earn above the Medicare Levy Surcharge threshold, a basic hospital policy often costs less than the surcharge, so it is worth it purely on tax grounds. Below the threshold it becomes a genuine healthcare decision about waiting lists, choice of doctor and everyday costs.
A 2% Lifetime Health Cover loading is added to your hospital premium for each year past 1 July following your 31st birthday, capped at 70%. It is removed once you have held continuous cover for ten years.
Yes. Contact your fund to add a partner. Waiting periods you have already served on your own cover carry across, though your partner will serve their own on anything new to them.
Medicare Levy Surcharge thresholds and government rebate percentages are reviewed regularly, so this page does not quote them. For the current figures see the ATO and the government's privatehealth.gov.au.
