HBF delivers lowest premium increase of top five funds for second consecutive year

HBF will implement an average premium increase of 2.15% from 1 April 2026, continuing its commitment to keeping premium rises as low as possible for members.

This represents the lowest average increase among Australia’s five largest health funds for the second year running and reinforces HBF’s commitment, as the nation’s second-largest not-for-profit health insurer, to keeping health cover accessible and affordable for its 1.2 million members.

HBF Chief Executive Officer Dr Lachlan Henderson said the result reflects the organisation’s long-term focus on value and affordability.

“HBF continues to lead the major funds on affordability, reflecting our commitment to keeping premium increases as low as possible for our members,” Dr Henderson said.

“Today’s announcement extends our long-term track record, with HBF’s 10-year average premium increase remaining below both the major funds and the industry average.

“As a not-for-profit, our priority is supporting members by managing costs, improving access to care and delivering strong health outcomes.

“Last year HBF paid a record $1.87 billion in claims, and 92.7% of in-hospital medical services for our members involved no out-of-pocket costs. We have also been launching new products to provide more flexibility and lower cost options for new and existing members, while continuing to invest in our popular no-gap offers at our HBF Dental and HBF Physio clinics.

“Private health insurance plays a vital role in ensuring Australians can access timely care while easing pressure on the public hospital system. HBF remains committed to working closely with healthcare providers and governments to support a sustainable, high-quality private health system into the future.”

Additional information
Private health insurance premium increases are assessed and approved annually by the Federal Minister for Health and reflect rising healthcare costs across hospital and ancillary services. The percentage stated is an average and individual members may experience a change above or below this figure depending on their product and level of cover. HBF will communicate directly with members about their specific premium changes in the coming weeks.