David Koch said record numbers of Australians have some form of health insurance – but are likely paying too much. \u00b7 Getty\/Compare the Market <\/p>\n
You can\u2019t put a price on your health. But for Aussies battling the cost-of-living crisis<\/a>, money can be a huge barrier<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to Compare the Market<\/a> research, nearly one-in-five of Australians said having to deal with unexpected or unplanned expenses was their biggest concern with health care<\/a>. This was followed by paying for the dentist<\/a> and paying for short and expensive specialist appointments.<\/p>\n It\u2019s no surprise when a full metallic crown can cost up to $1,650, a colonoscopy is around $200 out of pocket for private patients depending on their level of cover (excluding hospital fees), and a physio appointment could set you back upwards of $110 in parts of the country.<\/p>\n Yet, while some of these concerns could be fully or partially covered by an appropriate private health insurance policy, almost one-in-three Australians said they don\u2019t think it is worth having.<\/p>\n Top five health bugbears<\/p>\n Health Pet Peeve<\/p>\n Proportion of Responses (per cent)<\/p>\n Unexpected or unplanned expenses (such as a toothache, injury, sudden illness, etc.)<\/p>\n 16.4 per cent<\/p>\n Paying for the dentist<\/p>\n 11.9 per cent<\/p>\n Paying a lot of money for a specialist, only to see them for a quick period<\/p>\n 10.0 per cent<\/p>\n Paying to go to a doctor for a recurring script or medical certificate<\/p>\n 9.5 per cent<\/p>\n GPs always running behind<\/p>\n 8.9 per cent<\/p>\n Source: Compare the Market<\/a><\/p>\n It is a bitter pill to swallow \u2013 we already have so many bills and expenses to deal with, adding a health issue into the mix can be a kick in the guts.<\/p>\n With some private specialists charging patients high fees for consultations, seeking medical care can become a financial barrier when Australians are facing a range of cost-of-living pressures.<\/p>\n After interviewing Dr Rachel David, the CEO of Private Healthcare Australia, I\u2019ve started to follow her advice and to question specialists and dentists about the out-of-pocket costs they charge patients.<\/p>\n As she told me, we should question prices charged by health professionals just as it is to do the same with a plumber or accountant.<\/p>\n I\u2019m amazed when I ask the question about getting a better deal, how many specialists and dentists will come to the party and offer a discount.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve traditionally been a bit intimidated to do so in the healthcare space, but it is always worth asking the question.<\/p>\n Finding a health insurance policy can help ease the pressure with some policies covering part, or potentially all your out-of-pocket costs for certain treatments.<\/p>\n We know a record number of Australians currently have some form of private health cover but not everyone is getting the best value.<\/p>\n Many Australians felt health insurance could be useful in spite of rising premiums (41.1 per cent), while almost half of Australians haven\u2019t switched their health insurer in three years or more (44.7 per cent).<\/p>\n Those people could potentially be paying too much, especially if they are paying for cover they no longer need or use.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a good idea to shop around for a better policy every year or so to make sure you\u2019re getting more for your money.<\/p>\n Compare the Market commissioned PureProfile to survey a nationally representative sample of 1,013 Australians in June 2025.<\/p>\n Get the latest Yahoo Finance news – follow us on Facebook<\/a>, LinkedIn<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n