Health CPI Trend
Cumulative % above 2019-Q2, ABS CPI Health group, quarterly.
Your Annual Healthcare Cost
Private health insurance, GP gap fees, dental, specialists and prescriptions — the full out-of-pocket picture, including the April 2026 premium increase impact.
Healthcare Cost Calculator
Total out-of-pocket health spend with 2026 PHI premium impact — live.
PBS co-payment reduced $31.60 → $25.00 on 1 Jan 2026. PHI gov rebate tiers vary by income and age. Not medical or financial advice.
What Drives Health Costs
Private health insurance premiums rose 4.41% on average from 1 April 2026 — the largest annual increase in several years. Gold-tier hospital policies at the major funds (Medibank +5.1%, NIB +5.47%) increased well above the industry average. (Figures: APRA-approved 2026 PHI premium round; individual fund announcements.)
Medical and hospital services have been driven by higher specialist fees and private hospital accommodation charges. The private hospital sector has been under significant cost pressure from wages, energy, and supply chain costs — pressures that are being passed through to patients in the form of larger gap fees.
Pharmaceutical products have eased following the federal government's decision to reduce the PBS general co-payment from $31.60 to $25.00 on 1 January 2026. This is one of the few genuine household cost reductions in the current environment and provides a small but meaningful offset to other health cost increases.
Dental costs have continued a multi-year upward trend. The Child Dental Benefits Schedule provides some relief for families with children but adult dental care remains fully out-of-pocket for most Australians without extras cover.