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Health insurance question · South Australia · Single · release 2026-10-01 · ranked 2026-11-09

Hospital cover to avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge in South Australia for a single

In South Australia, the cheapest of 744 open hospital policies for a single that the release flags as exempting the holder from the Medicare Levy Surcharge with an excess no more than $750, from 30 insurers (median $211.16 a month), is see-u by HBF's Starter Hospital $750 Excess with Daily Co-Pay (Basic) at $98.81 a month before the government rebate, or about $74.98 after the 24.118% rebate for under-65s on the base income tier (up to $105,000, 1 July 2026 to 31 March 2027), with a $750 excess per person, as published to the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman in its monthly open-data release dated 2026-10-01, read and ranked by OpenStream on 2026-11-09.

The 10 cheapest of 744

Hospital policies the regulator's release flags as meeting the surcharge exemption, with an excess within the $750 cap PrivateHealth.gov.au states for singles (2026-27). Extras-only cover does not count. Whether the surcharge applies to you depends on your income; the rates are below.

744 policies from 30 insurers answer this question in the release dated 2026-10-01; median $211.16 a month. Premiums are per month before the Australian Government rebate and any Lifetime Health Cover loading, as each insurer published them. Every tier and household in South Australia.

The 100 cheapest of 744, ranked

As published to the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman in its monthly open-data release dated 2026-10-01, read and ranked by OpenStream on 2026-11-09. Every qualifying policy with its excess, its published premium and that premium after the government rebate in each of the three age bands the rebate is published in. This page shows the cheapest 100.

100 of 744 policies that answer "What is the cheapest hospital cover that avoids the Medicare Levy Surcharge in South Australia for a single?" Premiums are reproduced from the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman's monthly open-data release dated 2026-10-01, read and ranked by OpenStream on 2026-11-09. Premium per month as published, then the same premium after the Australian Government rebate for the three age bands it is published in, on the base income tier (up to $105,000, 1 July 2026 to 31 March 2027).
#InsurerPolicyTierExcessPremium / moUnder 6565 to 6970 and over
1see-u by HBFStarter Hospital $750 Excess with Daily Co-Pay (Basic)Basic$750$98.81$74.98$71.01$67.03Go to see-u
2GMHBA LimitedFrank Basic Accident Boost HospitalBasic$750$102.00$77.40$73.30$69.20Go to GMHBA
3HCFHCF Reciprocal Health Cover BasicBasic$750$102.25$77.59$73.48$69.37Go to HCF
4HCFHCF ACCIDENT ONLY BASICBasic$750$102.64$77.89$73.76$69.63Go to HCF
5see-u by HBFStarter Hospital $750 Excess (Basic)Basic$750$103.24$78.34$74.19$70.04Go to see-u
6Phoenix Health Fund LimitedBasic Accident Only HospitalBasic$750$104.55$79.33$75.13$70.93Go to Phoenix
7TUH, part of the Teachers Health Group
restricted membership
Union Health Basic+ Hospital $750 excessBasic Plus$750$106.36$80.71$76.43$72.16Go to TUH,
8TUH, part of the Teachers Health Group
restricted membership
Basic+ Hospital $750 excessBasic Plus$750$106.36$80.71$76.43$72.16Go to TUH,
9HBF Health LimitedBasic Hospital Accident Only $750/$1500 ExcessBasic$750$107.07$81.25$76.94$72.64Go to HBF
10HCiBasic Plus Hospital $750 excessBasic Plus$750$107.15$81.31$77.00$72.69Go to HCi
11GMHBA LimitedGMHBA Accident Only Hospital (Basic)Basic$750$108.45$82.29$77.93$73.57Go to GMHBA
12nib Health Funds Ltd.Basic Accident Hospital $750 ExcessBasic$750$108.65$82.45$78.08$73.71Go to nib
13Bupa HI Pty LtdBasic Accident Only Hospital $750 ExcessBasic$750$108.95$82.67$78.29$73.91Go to Bupa
14Defence Health Limited
restricted membership
Starter Hospital Basic PlusBasic Plus$750$109.00$82.71$78.33$73.95Go to Defence
15Health PartnersBasic Accident Hospital $750 ExcessBasic$750$109.20$82.86$78.47$74.08Go to Health
16HBF Health LimitedBasic Hospital Accident Only $750/$1500 Excess & Ambulance CareBasic$750$109.24$82.89$78.50$74.11Go to HBF
17Medibank Private LimitedMedibank Basic Accident and AmbulanceBasic$750$111.25$84.42$79.95$75.47Go to Medibank
18GMHBA LimitedFrank Basic Plus HospitalBasic Plus$750$111.45$84.57$80.09$75.61Go to GMHBA
19Defence Health Limited
restricted membership
Defence Hospital Basic PlusBasic Plus$750$111.69$84.75$80.26$75.77Go to Defence
20HCFHCF Hospital Basic Plus $750 ExcessBasic Plus$750$111.74$84.79$80.30$75.81Go to HCF
21RT Health - a division of The Hospitals Contribution FundBasic Plus Starter Hospital $750 ExcessBasic Plus$750 /policy$111.74$84.79$80.30$75.81Go to RT
22HBF Health LimitedBasic Hospital Plus $750/$1500 ExcessBasic Plus$750$112.32$85.23$80.71$76.20Go to HBF
23Westfund LimitedBasic Plus 750 HospitalBasic Plus$750$112.84$85.63$81.09$76.55Go to Westfund
24Health Insurance Fund of Australia LimitedBasic Plus Hospital $750/$1500Basic Plus$750$113.60$86.20$81.63$77.07Go to Health
25Australian Unity Health LimitedSimple Hospital (Basic Plus)Basic Plus$750$113.75$86.32$81.74$77.17Go to Australian
26Bupa HI Pty LtdReciprocal Health Cover - BasicBasic$500$114.35$86.77$82.17$77.58Go to Bupa
27HBF Health LimitedBasic Hospital Plus $750/$1500 Excess & Ambulance CareBasic Plus$750$114.49$86.88$82.27$77.67Go to HBF
28Defence Health Limited
restricted membership
Essentials Hospital Basic Plus 750Basic Plus$750$115.07$87.32$82.69$78.07Go to Defence
29CBHS Health Fund Limited
restricted membership
Starter Basic Plus Hospital $750 ExcessBasic Plus$750$115.14$87.37$82.74$78.11Go to CBHS
30nib Health Funds Ltd.Basic Accident Hospital $500 ExcessBasic$500$115.15$87.38$82.75$78.12Go to nib
31Bupa HI Pty LtdBasic Accident Only Hospital $500 ExcessBasic$500$115.70$87.80$83.14$78.49Go to Bupa
32Health Insurance Fund of Australia LimitedBasic Plus Hospital $500/$1000Basic Plus$500$115.75$87.83$83.18$78.53Go to Health
33nib Health Funds Ltd.Basic Care Hospital Plus $750 ExcessBasic Plus$750$116.10$88.10$83.43$78.76Go to nib
34AIA Health Insurance Pty LtdBasic Accident Only Hospital 750Basic$750$116.22$88.19$83.52$78.85Go to AIA
35GMHBA LimitedGMHBA Basic Plus Starter HospitalBasic Plus$750$116.50$88.40$83.72$79.04Go to GMHBA
36Medibank Private LimitedMedibank Basic Plus SelectBasic Plus$750$116.50$88.40$83.72$79.04Go to Medibank
37Bupa HI Pty LtdBasic Plus Starter Hospital $750 ExcessBasic Plus$750$116.55$88.44$83.75$79.07Go to Bupa
38TUH, part of the Teachers Health Group
restricted membership
Basic+ Hospital $500 excessBasic Plus$500$116.77$88.61$83.91$79.22Go to TUH,
39TUH, part of the Teachers Health Group
restricted membership
Union Health Basic+ Hospital ($500/1000 excess)Basic Plus$500$116.77$88.61$83.91$79.22Go to TUH,
40HBF Health LimitedBasic Hospital Plus $500/$1000 ExcessBasic Plus$500$118.76$90.12$85.34$80.57Go to HBF
41Peoplecare Health InsuranceBasic Plus Hospital $750Basic Plus$750$119.07$90.35$85.56$80.78Go to Peoplecare
42Health PartnersBasic Hospital Plus $750 ExcessBasic Plus$750$119.86$90.95$86.13$81.32Go to Health
43Westfund LimitedBasic Plus 500 HospitalBasic Plus$500$120.12$91.15$86.32$81.49Go to Westfund
44nib Health Funds Ltd.ING Basic Plus Hospital $750 ExcessBasic Plus$750$120.34$91.32$86.48$81.64Go to nib
45Medibank Private LimitedMedibank Basic Accident and AmbulanceBasic$500$120.65$91.55$86.70$81.85Go to Medibank
46AIA Health Insurance Pty LtdBasic Plus Hospital 750Basic Plus$750$120.88$91.73$86.87$82.01Go to AIA
47HBF Health LimitedBasic Hospital Plus $500/$1000 Excess & Ambulance CareBasic Plus$500$120.93$91.76$86.90$82.04Go to HBF
48nib Health Funds Ltd.Real Basic Plus Hospital $750 ExcessBasic Plus$750$121.11$91.90$87.03$82.16Go to nib
49nib Health Funds Ltd.AAMI Basic Hospital Plus $750 ExcessBasic Plus$750$121.33$92.07$87.19$82.31Go to nib
50nib Health Funds Ltd.Basic Essential Hospital Plus $750 ExcessBasic Plus$750$121.47$92.17$87.29$82.41Go to nib
51nib Health Funds Ltd.Suncorp Health Insurance Basic Hospital Plus $750 ExcessBasic Plus$750$121.47$92.17$87.29$82.41Go to nib
52Medibank Private LimitedMedibank Basic Plus SelectBasic Plus$500$121.50$92.20$87.31$82.43Go to Medibank
53nib Health Funds Ltd.Qantas Basic Hospital $750 ExcessBasic Plus$750$121.83$92.45$87.55$82.65Go to nib
54see-u by HBFSaver Hospital $750 Excess with Daily Co-Pay (Bronze Plus)Bronze Plus$750$122.36$92.85$87.93$83.01Go to see-u
55Peoplecare Health InsuranceBasic Plus Hospital $500Basic Plus$500$122.68$93.09$88.16$83.23Go to Peoplecare
56Bupa HI Pty LtdBasic Plus Starter Hospital $500 ExcessBasic Plus$500$123.55$93.75$88.78$83.82Go to Bupa
57Defence Health Limited
restricted membership
Defence Hospital Basic PlusBasic Plus$500$123.59$93.78$88.81$83.85Go to Defence
58HCFHCF Hospital Basic Plus $500 ExcessBasic Plus$500$123.59$93.78$88.81$83.85Go to HCF
59RT Health - a division of The Hospitals Contribution FundBasic Plus Starter Hospital $500 ExcessBasic Plus$500 /policy$123.59$93.78$88.81$83.85Go to RT
60ahm health insurancebronze no fussBronze$750$123.80$93.94$88.96$83.99Go to ahm
61HBF Health LimitedBasic Hospital Plus Elevate $750/$1500 ExcessBasic Plus$750$124.36$94.37$89.37$84.37Go to HBF
62AIA Health Insurance Pty LtdBasic Accident Only Hospital 500Basic$500$124.38$94.38$89.38$84.38Go to AIA
63Australian Unity Health LimitedSimple Hospital (Basic Plus)Basic Plus$500$124.60$94.55$89.54$84.53Go to Australian
64Health PartnersBasic Hospital Plus $500 ExcessBasic Plus$500$124.84$94.73$89.71$84.69Go to Health
65Defence Health Limited
restricted membership
Saver Hospital Bronze PlusBronze Plus$750$125.00$94.85$89.83$84.80Go to Defence
66GU HealthInpatriate Basic Hospital $500 Excess (Single)Basic Plus$500$125.00$94.85$89.83$84.80Go to GU
67Phoenix Health Fund LimitedBronze Hospital 750Bronze$750$125.30$95.08$90.04$85.01Go to Phoenix
68HBF Health LimitedLite Bronze Hospital Plus $750/$1500 ExcessBronze Plus$750$126.53$96.01$90.93$85.84Go to HBF
69HBF Health LimitedBasic Hospital Plus Elevate $750/$1500 Excess & Ambulance CareBasic Plus$750$126.53$96.01$90.93$85.84Go to HBF
70see-u by HBFSaver Hospital $750 Excess (Bronze Plus)Bronze Plus$750$126.83$96.24$91.14$86.04Go to see-u
71nib Health Funds Ltd.Basic Care Hospital Plus $500 ExcessBasic Plus$500$126.93$96.32$91.21$86.11Go to nib
72CBHS Health Fund Limited
restricted membership
Value Bronze Plus Hospital $750 ExcessBronze Plus$750$127.62$96.84$91.71$86.58Go to CBHS
73GMHBA LimitedFrank Bronze HospitalBronze$750$127.70$96.90$91.77$86.63Go to GMHBA
74Phoenix Health Fund LimitedBronze Plus Essentials Hospital 750Bronze Plus$750$127.72$96.92$91.78$86.65Go to Phoenix
75HBF Health LimitedLite Bronze Hospital Plus $750/$1500 Excess & Ambulance CareBronze Plus$750$128.70$97.66$92.49$87.31Go to HBF
76Defence Health Limited
restricted membership
Defence Hospital Bronze PlusBronze Plus$750$128.82$97.75$92.57$87.39Go to Defence
77Bupa HI Pty LtdBronze Hospital $750 ExcessBronze$750$129.05$97.93$92.74$87.55Go to Bupa
78Latrobe Health ServicesBronze Hospital 750 ExcessBronze$750$129.22$98.05$92.86$87.67Go to Latrobe
79Defence Health Limited
restricted membership
Essentials Hospital Basic Plus 250Basic Plus$250$129.86$98.54$93.32$88.10Go to Defence
80Teachers Health
restricted membership
Basic Hospital (Basic Plus)Basic Plus$300$130.00$98.65$93.42$88.19Go to Teachers
81Teachers Health
restricted membership
Basic Hospital (Basic Plus)Basic Plus$300$130.00$98.65$93.42$88.19Go to Teachers
82Teachers Health
restricted membership
Basic Hospital (Basic Plus)Basic Plus$300$130.00$98.65$93.42$88.19Go to Teachers
83Medibank Private LimitedMedibank Bronze Plus ValueBronze Plus$750$130.35$98.91$93.67$88.43Go to Medibank
84Medibank Private LimitedMedibank Basic Plus SelectBasic Plus$250$131.25$99.60$94.32$89.04Go to Medibank
85Defence Health Limited
restricted membership
Saver Hospital Bronze PlusBronze Plus$500$132.00$100.16$94.86$89.55Go to Defence
86nib Health Funds Ltd.Qantas Basic Hospital $500 ExcessBasic Plus$500$132.44$100.50$95.17$89.85Go to nib
87Westfund LimitedBronze 750 HospitalBronze$750$132.82$100.79$95.45$90.11Go to Westfund
88Latrobe Health ServicesBronze Plus Hospital 750 ExcessBronze Plus$750$133.12$101.01$95.66$90.31Go to Latrobe
89Phoenix Health Fund LimitedBronze Hospital 500Bronze$500$133.15$101.04$95.68$90.33Go to Phoenix
90Queensland Country Health FundCore Hospital (Basic+) $750 excessBasic Plus$750$133.19$101.07$95.71$90.36Go to Queensland
91nib Health Funds Ltd.ING Basic Plus Hospital $500 ExcessBasic Plus$500$133.43$101.25$95.88$90.52Go to nib
92TUH, part of the Teachers Health Group
restricted membership
Union Health Bronze+ Hospital $750 excessBronze Plus$750$133.48$101.29$95.92$90.56Go to TUH,
93TUH, part of the Teachers Health Group
restricted membership
Bronze+ Hospital $750 excessBronze Plus$750$133.48$101.29$95.92$90.56Go to TUH,
94nib Health Funds Ltd.AAMI Basic Hospital Plus $500 ExcessBasic Plus$500$133.52$101.32$95.95$90.58Go to nib
95nib Health Funds Ltd.Basic Essential Hospital Plus $500 ExcessBasic Plus$500$133.57$101.36$95.98$90.62Go to nib
96nib Health Funds Ltd.Suncorp Health Insurance Basic Hospital Plus $500 ExcessBasic Plus$500$133.57$101.36$95.98$90.62Go to nib
97GMHBA LimitedFrank Bronze Plus HospitalBronze Plus$750$133.60$101.38$96.01$90.64Go to GMHBA
98nib Health Funds Ltd.Real Basic Plus Hospital $500 ExcessBasic Plus$500$133.93$101.63$96.24$90.86Go to nib
99HCFHCF HOSPITAL BRONZE $750 EXCESSBronze$750$134.06$101.73$96.34$90.95Go to HCF
100see-u by HBFSmart Hospital $750 Excess (Bronze Plus)Bronze Plus$750$135.29$102.66$97.22$91.78Go to see-u

What changes the figure

Set by law, not by the insurer; quoted from PrivateHealth.gov.au with the period each applies to.

The surcharge taxes having none

Earn over $105,000 as a single or $210,000 as a family in 2026-27 with no hospital cover and the Medicare Levy Surcharge adds 1% to 1.5% of your income to your tax. Hospital cover with an excess of $750 or less (singles) or $1,500 (families) avoids it; extras-only cover does not.

PrivateHealth.gov.au, Medicare Levy Surcharge
The rebate takes money off

The government pays part of every premium, in four income tiers and three age bands. For 1 July 2026 to 31 March 2027: under 65 it is 24.118% on the base tier, 16.079% on tier 1, 8.038% on tier 2 and nothing on tier 3; from 65 it rises to 28.139% and from 70 to 32.158% on the base tier. Singles' base tier ends at $105,000, families' at $210,000 plus $1,500 a child after the first. Claim it as a lower premium through the insurer, or at tax time.

PrivateHealth.gov.au, Australian Government Rebate on private health insurance

Questions

Answered from the release dated 2026-10-01.

Does a Basic hospital policy avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge in South Australia?
19 open Basic hospital policies for a single in South Australia are flagged in the release dated 2026-10-01 as giving the exemption with an excess within the $750 cap; the cheapest of every tier is see-u by HBF's Starter Hospital $750 Excess with Daily Co-Pay (Basic) at $98.81 a month.
What excess is allowed?
PrivateHealth.gov.au states hospital cover counts only if its excess is no more than $750 for a single or $1,500 for a couple or family (2026-27). Policies over the cap are left off this page.
Is the premium what I would pay?
No. $98.81 a month is the figure see-u by HBF published to the regulator for a single in South Australia on 2026-10-01, before the Australian Government rebate and before any Lifetime Health Cover loading; what you pay depends on your income tier, your age when you first took hospital cover and the excess you choose.
What is the cheapest after the Australian Government rebate?
see-u by HBF's Starter Hospital $750 Excess with Daily Co-Pay (Basic) at $98.81 a month published comes to under 65 about $74.98 a month, 65 to 69 about $71.01 a month, 70 and over about $67.03 a month on the base income tier (1 July 2026 to 31 March 2027), as published to the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman in its monthly open-data release dated 2026-10-01, read and ranked by OpenStream on 2026-11-09. Every row below carries the same three figures.

Related

Other questions for a single in South Australia, the same question for other households, and the guides behind the settings.

Important information

General information only. Not advice.

  • Every premium on these pages is the figure the insurer publishes to the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman's PrivateHealth.gov.au data, release dated 01-Oct-2026, shown per month before the Australian Government rebate and before any Lifetime Health Cover loading. What you pay depends on your income tier, your age when you first took hospital cover, your state and the excess you choose. It can be lower or higher than the figure shown.
  • OpenStream does not consider your health, your circumstances or your needs. A cheaper policy may exclude a service you will need; waiting periods, excesses, co-payments, hospital agreements and age-based discounts differ by policy. Read the insurer's Private Health Information Statement (PHIS) before deciding; every policy here links to the regulator's record.
  • OpenStream is not a registered health insurer, does not sell insurance and does not arrange cover. Links to insurers go to the insurer's own website. We receive no payment from any health insurer at the date shown; if that changes, it will be stated on this page and on the methodology page, and it will never change the order policies appear in, which is by published premium alone.
  • Private health insurance is not a financial product under section 765A(1)(c) of the Corporations Act 2001, so this comparison is not a financial service and OpenStream does not hold an Australian financial services licence. If you want personal advice, speak to the insurer or a licensed adviser.
  • Source: PrivateHealth.gov.au open data, published by the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman on data.gov.au under Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia. Products closed to new members are not shown. Figures are reproduced, not estimated.

General information only, not advice. OpenStream is not an insurer, not a broker and holds no Australian financial services licence. It does not sell, arrange or recommend insurance, and nothing here is a recommendation or a quote. Everything on this page is built from public sources - regulators, government bodies and the providers' own published material - each named and dated where it is used, so you can check it yourself. It does not take account of your circumstances. How OpenStream works · Corrections and complaints

Open pricing means Australians can be better informed, and save more.

Most comparison sites show the insurers that pay them. OpenStream lists every open private health insurance policy from every registered insurer, 79,604 open policies from 34 registered health insurers, at the premium each publishes to the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman, released monthly. Nothing is promoted; car, travel, life and pet are named from APRA's registers and never priced.

  • 34
    registered health insurers
  • 79,604
    open policies
  • 0
    promoted rows
  • 100%
    of prices cite their source