Aussie families face $200 hike on critical health insurance policies

Aussie families face being slugged around $200 more a year as private health insurance premiums are hiked.

New analysis shows next year's private health insurance premium increase could sit between 3.9 and 4.4 per cent.

Money.com.au says although premium increases have sat below health inflation since 2021, the gap has been steadily closing.

If health inflation stays near the four per cent mark this year, the 2026 premium hike could fall in line with, or even increase more than health price inflation.

That kind of premium rise would see singles on a combined hospital and extras policy pay an extra $127–$144 a year, while families would face another $191–$216 annually.

These estimates are based on the average combined single policy costing $3,264 a year and the average com