Our insurance experts have reviewed Bronze hospital insurance policies from over 40 health insurers to find out which ones offer the best value. See if you can secure cover that’ll save you money by comparing health insurance.
Not sure what Bronze health insurance covers or if it’s right for you? We explain the differences between Bronze and Bronze Plus policies and how much you can expect to pay.
Bronze health insurance is a lower level of cover for private hospital insurance covering 18 categories of services in private hospital.
If you’re healthy and not planning a family but you want back-up cover for broken bones, the flu and some diabetes treatment, Bronze health insurance could work for you.
If you just want health insurance to avoid taxes and don’t actually need to use your health insurance, try the cheapest Basic policy. But if you want a higher level of cover, look for Bronze Plus, Silver or Gold health insurance.
Not sure what level of hospital insurance you need? Take our quick quiz to find out.
What does Bronze health insurance cover?
Breast, skin and prostate cancer surgery (including breast reconstruction), plus chemotherapy and radiation.
Broken bones and other bone, joint and muscle treatments including joint reconstructions (but not replacements).
Ear, nose and throat surgery including tonsils, adenoids and grommets.
Diabetes management in hospital (but not implanted insulin pumps).
Endoscopy and colonoscopy, plus other digestive system procedures including removal of gallstones or haemorrhoids.
Gynaecology, miscarriage and termination of pregnancy, sterilisation (male and female) but not pregnancy and birth.
Brain and nervous system treatments including for head injuries, stroke, epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease.
Hernia and appendix surgery.
Skin-related procedures including treatments for lesions and abscesses, and allergy skin-prick testing.
Palliative care, rehabilitation and psychiatric care (in a public hospital only).
A Bronze Plus policy is a level up from Bronze but is cheaper than a Silver policy. Bronze Plus health insurance policies cover the 18 categories of services in private hospital listed above, plus at least one of the below treatments not covered by Bronze:
IVF, pregnancy and birth
joint replacements
cataracts
heart and vascular surgery
lung cancer and other chest surgery
medically necessary plastic and reconstructive surgery
bone marrow transplants and other blood-related treatments
investigation and treatment for back, neck and spine problems such as for sciatica and scoliosis
dialysis
dental surgery (wisdom teeth and dental implants in hospital)
implantation of hearing devices
accommodation in hospital for podiatric surgery
insulin pumps
sleep studies
pain management with a device (for example, a surgically implanted device to manage pain caused by heart disease).
If you want cover for a specific treatment in the above list, you may be able to buy a Bronze Plus policy. Otherwise you’ll need a Silver or Silver Plus policy or a Gold policy with all the bells and whistles.
CHOICE tip: Bronze Plus policies aren’t always more expensive. We’ve found in many states that Bronze Plus policies can be cheaper than some Bronze policies that cover fewer treatments.
How much is Bronze health insurance?
Bronze and Bronze Plus health insurance monthly premiums for a single policy are on average about $120 for Bronze and $130 for Bronze Plus with a $750 excess (without the health insurance rebate).
The cost varies depending on which state you live in.
What is a health insurance excess?
An excess is an amount of money you pay when you go to hospital. The higher your excess is, the lower your monthly premium will be.
You’re better off with an excess if you’re healthy and don’t plan to go to hospital anytime soon, but consider a low or no excess option if you think you’ll go to hospital sooner rather than later.
If you’re curious to know whether you’re overpaying for health insurance, we’ve built a tool that allows you to compare thousands of health insurance policies from over 40 health insurers (see the full list of below).
Our experts rate policies based on out-of-pocket costs, fund complaints, price and more, and we’re 100% independent, which means we don’t show sponsored results like other comparison sites.
We show you all the funds – big and small, member-owned and nonprofit – to help you find the best. Compare health insurance now and see whether you can change policies and save.
Our health insurance reviews are for members, but we’ve got lots of helpful free health insurance content, like advice from our experts, explainer articles and buying guides, to help you make sense of your options.
Health funds included in our review
With our health insurance tool you can compare policies from over 40 health insurers:
Jodi Bird is the Managing Financial Content Editor at CHOICE. Previously at CHOICE, he worked as Travel project lead and as a Finance specialist.
Jodi has over 30 years experience in financial services, having worked with major banks such as CBA, Westpac and Credit Suisse. He enjoys breaking down complex consumer decisions into easy to understand steps and holding companies to account for failing their customers. He is regularly called upon for expert commentary by major broadcasters such as the ABC, SBS, and Channels 7, 9, and 10.
Jodi has a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Economics from the University of Wollongong. He is RG146 compliance certified to provide general advice for General Insurance and is a Responsible Manager on CHOICE's Australian Financial Services License.
Find Jodi on LinkedIn.
Jodi Bird is the Managing Financial Content Editor at CHOICE. Previously at CHOICE, he worked as Travel project lead and as a Finance specialist.
Jodi has over 30 years experience in financial services, having worked with major banks such as CBA, Westpac and Credit Suisse. He enjoys breaking down complex consumer decisions into easy to understand steps and holding companies to account for failing their customers. He is regularly called upon for expert commentary by major broadcasters such as the ABC, SBS, and Channels 7, 9, and 10.
Jodi has a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Economics from the University of Wollongong. He is RG146 compliance certified to provide general advice for General Insurance and is a Responsible Manager on CHOICE's Australian Financial Services License.
Find Jodi on LinkedIn.
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