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Health Insurance for Over 50s
Health Insurance for Over 50s
Written by
Madeline Pettet
Edited by
Ellie Garran
Reviewed by
Andres GutierrezCheck out our range of private health funds
iSelect does not compare all providers in the market or all policies offered by our partners in your area. Not all policies or special offers are available to all customers and some may only be available over the phone or on the website. Learn more.
What is over 50s health insurance?
Unlike some kinds of insurance, private health insurance doesn’t see age. As a result, there’s no policy specifically made for people over 50. However, some policies and inclusions might be more appealing as you settle into the next stage of life.
To keep you in the loop, when we talk about health insurance for over 50s, we’re referring to people aged 50 to 66. Older Aussies might prefer to learn about seniors’ health insurance.
Is health insurance for over 50s and over 55s worth it?
Half a century on this earth is a cause for celebration. One birthday present you probably won’t appreciate, though, is how your health might change. This can take all shapes and forms, like menopause, type 2 diabetes, tooth decay, gum disease, or even suddenly needing glasses to read the menu at a restaurant.
Depending on your circumstances, Medicare might cover some or all of the costs for treating your health issues as you get older. Alternatively, you can use health insurance. That could mean getting to enjoy some extra benefits, too.
What are the benefits of health insurance if I’m over 50?
Choose a doctor you trust
For most of us, our medical knowledge doesn’t extend much beyond taking paracetamol for a headache. This means we really need to put our trust in our treating doctors. This can be tricky if you’re not familiar with them and already feel anxious about your procedure.
But if you have hospital cover, you can choose your treating doctor in hospital. This can help you feel more comfortable about your upcoming procedure.
Before you start booking things in, remember that not all doctors practice at all hospitals. Similarly, different health insurers have gap agreements with different doctors, too. If you have a hospital or doctor in mind for a procedure, it’s a good idea to check if everything lines up ahead of time.
Forget about the risk of long public waiting times
No one can deny that Australia’s public hospital system is something to be proud of. However, nothing is perfect. In this case, it’s the long waiting lists that can really make you pause. For instance, in 2023–24, the national median wait for non-urgent elective surgery was 199 days.1Australian Institute for Health and Welfare – Waiting times for elective surgery If you’re still working, along with taking care of older kids and maybe even your parents, you mightn’t be keen on ‘keeping calm and carrying on’ for so long.
Depending on your policy, private health insurance could be the alternative you’re after. Having a shorter wait time for surgery might be something you really value, particularly given that elective surgery tends to become more common as you enter your 50s and 60s.2Australian Institute for Health and Welfare – Admitted patient care 2023–24: What procedures were performed?
Rest up in a private room
With private health insurance, you can request your own room if you need to spend a night or two in hospital. While these rooms can be limited, your odds of getting one are much greater than in the public system.
While it won’t be a five-star hotel experience, a private room can mean you feel a little more comfortable and get some extra rest when your body really needs it. Plus, if family and friends come to visit you (and we hope they do!), you won’t need to worry about disturbing the rest of other patients or trying to keep your private moments with loved ones actually private.
Look out for your kids, even when they’ve left home
As you start to move into another stage of your life, your kids might be heading that way, too. Whether they’re finishing up high school, expanding their minds at uni, or making their mark in the workforce, it’s hard to let them go completely.
So, including your child on your health insurance can be a way to still look after them, even if they’ve flown the nest. Your child might still be eligible to be on a family policy with you all the way up to age 31. This could help them look after their health and minimise future medical issues, even if they feel invincible right now.
Helpful tip
You don’t have to add your kids to your new health insurance policy. In fact, if they’re 18, they could take out their own policy. Going through health insurance options together can be a way to set them up with some important life skills, impart your wisdom, and find your next policy while you’re at it.
Andres Gutierrez
General Manager – Health
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What types of over 50s health insurance policies are there?
Health insurance comes in three varieties: hospital cover, extras cover, and a combination of both. Your health and lifestyle needs might mean you prefer one type over another. Don’t forget to think about what could change in the future, too.
How much is health insurance for over 50s in Australia?
Your health insurance premium will change depending on a range of factors, particularly what and how much your policy covers. So, someone who opts for a family policy with lots of extras and gold hospital cover will likely pay more than someone who just wants extras cover for themselves and their teeth.
But if you’re looking for some averages to give you a ballpark figure, we can help. The table shows the average national monthly health insurance premium iSelect customers aged 50–64 paid in 2024–25.
| Age | Hospital | Extras | Combined |
| 50–54 | $244.69 | $108.45 | $360.90 |
| 55–59 | $234.67 | $97.59 | $357.80 |
| 60–64 | $259.82 | $97.06 | $361.29 |
Source: Based on iSelect health insurance sales, July 2024 – June 2025
Frequently asked questions
If I’m over 50, do I still have to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS)?
The MLS is a tax you might need to pay if you earn over a certain amount and you don’t have appropriate hospital cover. Your age isn’t a factor, so even if you’re in your 50s or older, the MLS can still apply.
Importantly, in this instance, having appropriate hospital cover is all about your excess amount. If you have singles hospital cover with an excess of $750 or less, or a couple or family hospital policy with an excess of $1,500 or less, you’re in the clear.
The income threshold changes every now and again. Here are the thresholds that apply as of 1 July 2025.
| No Charge | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | |
| Singles | Less Than $101,000 | $101,001-$118,000 | $118,001-$158,000 | $158,001+ |
| Couples and families | Less Than $202,000 (combined) | $202,001-$236,000 (combined) | $236,001-$316,000 (combined) | $316,000+ (combined) |
| Medicare Levy Surcharge | 0% | 1% | 1.25% | 1.5% |
Source: PrivateHealth.gov.au – Medicare Levy Surcharge
Do I need to know about the Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading if I’m over 50?
Cast your mind back to when the millennium was new and shiny. It was a time when you could catch a flight on Ansett Airlines, barely spend a second in the security line, and your in-flight entertainment was whatever was playing on a monitor stuck to the cabin ceiling. The year 2000 was also when the LHC loading came into being.
LHC loading is an initiative to encourage Australians to take out and keep hospital cover. In a nutshell, for every year you were over 30 and without hospital cover, you’ll pay an additional 2% loading on your premiums when you do take out cover. The max loading is 70%. This loading – no matter how big or small – doesn’t go away until you’ve had health insurance for a decade.
You’ll often hear LHC loading talked about as a reason for young people to take out health insurance. However, basically every Australian needs to be across it – unless you were born before 1 July 1934.
FYI: if you celebrated your 31st birthday before 1 July 2000, your LHC loading count only starts from 1 July 2000.
Do I get a discount on health insurance if I’m over 50? Do I count as a senior?
Another initiative to get Australians taking out health insurance is the private health insurance rebate. Depending on your income and age, the rebate means you could get reduced premiums.
You might still have a few years to wait for the bigger reductions, though. Older Australians – those aged over 65 – can get a higher rebate than other Aussies.
Even so, given your income is also a factor, you might still receive a decent percentage back if you earn a little less but still opt to have hospital cover. In fact, about 65% of iSelect customers aged 50–64 claimed the base tier rebate in 2024, while fewer than 10% were ineligible for a rebate because of their income.3Based on iSelect health insurance comparisons, January–December 2024
| 2025–2026 income thresholds | ||||
| Base tier | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | |
| Singles | ≤$101,000 | $101,001–$118,000 | $118,001–$158,000 | ≥$158,001 |
| Families | ≤$202,000 | $202,001–$236,000 | $236,001–$316,000 | ≥$316,001 |
| Rebate percentage (as of 1 July 2025 – 31 March 2026) | ||||
| Age <65 | 24.288% | 16.192% | 8.095% | 0% |
| Age 65–69 | 28.337% | 20.240% | 12.143% | 0% |
| Age 70+ | 32.385% | 24.288% | 16.192% | 0% |
Source: PrivateHealth.gov.au – Australian Government Private Health Insurance Rebate
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Health Insurance & Tax
Tax Implications on Health Insurance
How to save on Health Insurance
About the Medicare Levy Surcharge
About the Life Time Health Cover Loading
Government Rebate & Means Testing
iSelect does not compare all health insurance providers or policies in the market. The availability of policies will change from time to time. Not all policies available from its providers are compared by iSelect and due to commercial arrangements, your stated needs and circumstances, not all policies compared by iSelect are available to all customers. Some policies and special offers are available only from iSelect’s contact centre or website. Click here to view iSelect’s range of providers