The government is now operating in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions, pending the outcome of the 2025 federal election.

Topics

Private health insurance

Private health insurance policies cover some of the costs of treatment in a private hospital. Insurance can also help cover 'extras' – other medical services such as dental, physiotherapy, optical and more. Find out how Health helps to improve the value of private health insurance for people.

Learn about private health insurance

Find out about private health insurance — what is it, why have it, how it works.

Understand private health insurance reforms

Reforms are happening to make private health insurance simpler and more affordable.

What is covered by private health insurance?

Private health insurance provides cover for health care not covered by Medicare.

Compare private health insurance policies

Use this online tool to select and compare private health insurance policies.

View all private health insurance information

Our role in hospital care

Learn about funding and support for public and private hospitals in Australia, including how to become a declared hospital and data reporting requirements.

Rules for insurers and providers

What insurers offer and how they communicate with policy holders is governed by Australia's private health insurance laws. Insurers, private hospitals and medical device sponsors must also comply with certain processes. 

Prescribed List

Private health insurers are required to pay benefits for the products listed on the Prescribed List. Find out what the list includes, when we update it, and how to apply to list products on it or change current listings.

Updates for private health insurers

Read the latest private health insurance (PHI) circulars for updates on matters affecting private health insurers.

You can access PHI circulars published between 2010 and 2018 through Trove on the National Archives of Australia's site.

Private health insurance circulars

Resources

Resources

Natural Therapies Review 2024 – Report and recommendations

Report
Read the final report from the Chair of the Natural Therapies Review Expert Advisory Panel. The review considered a range of natural therapies and recommends which ones should be eligible for subsidy through private health insurance rebates.

Prescribed List of Medical Devices and Human Tissue Products

Report
This page lists the medical devices and human tissue products private health insurers must pay benefits for to the patients who have appropriate insurance policies. The latest version of the Prescribed List is effective from 1 March 2025.
View more resources