Premium impacts differ by product and tier
The 4.41% average increase, the highest since 2017, will translate into different dollar changes depending on product type and benefit level. For families on a combined hospital and extras policy, the rise is estimated to add about $216 a year, based on an average annual premium of $4,908. Single policyholders on a combined product are expected to pay roughly $144 more per year, from an average of $3,264. For hospital-only products, a Gold hospital family policy is projected to increase by about $342 a year, from $7,752 to $8,094. A Gold hospital single policy is expected to rise by around $143 annually, from $3,240 to $3,383. Silver hospital family cover is estimated to lift by about $140 a year (from $3,180 to $3,320), while Silver hospital single cover is expected to rise by about $99 (from $2,244 to $2,343).