Hospital cover · South Australia · November 2026
The cheapest hospital cover in SA that avoids the Medicare levy surcharge
For one adult in SA it is see-u’s Starter Hospital $750 Excess with Daily Co-Pay (Basic): $98.81 a month, or $995 a year after the rebate. That is less than the $1,050 surcharge at the first dollar over $105,000, so for anyone who would owe the surcharge, the cover costs less than going without.
The ten cheapest for one adult
Every hospital policy in SA from a fund anyone can join that counts for the surcharge, cheapest first. A year’s cost is after the 16.1% rebate that applies between $105,001 and the next income band, with no Lifetime Health Cover loading and no age-based discount. The surcharge on $110,000 is $1,100.
- 1see-u Starter Hospital $750 Excess with Daily Co-Pay (Basic)$995 a year
$98.81 a month listed · Basic · $750 excess
Go to see-u (opens in a new tab) - 2ahm ambulance hospital (basic)$1,002 a year
$99.50 a month listed · Basic · $750 excess
Go to ahm (opens in a new tab) - 3GMHBA Frank Basic Accident Boost Hospital$1,027 a year
$102.00 a month listed · Basic · $750 excess
Go to Frank (opens in a new tab) - 4HCF Accident Only Basic$1,034 a year
$102.64 a month listed · Basic · $750 excess
Go to HCF (opens in a new tab) - 5see-u Starter Hospital $750 Excess (Basic)$1,040 a year
$103.24 a month listed · Basic · $750 excess
Go to see-u (opens in a new tab) - 6Phoenix Health Basic Accident Only Hospital$1,053 a year
$104.55 a month listed · Basic · $750 excess
Go to Phoenix Health (opens in a new tab) - 7ahm ambulance & accident hospital (basic)$1,064 a year
$105.65 a month listed · Basic · $750 excess
Go to ahm (opens in a new tab) - 8HBF Basic Hospital Accident Only $750/$1500 Excess$1,078 a year
$107.07 a month listed · Basic · $750 excess
Go to HBF (opens in a new tab) - 9HCi Basic Plus Hospital $750 excess$1,079 a year
$107.15 a month listed · Basic Plus · $750 excess
Go to HCi (opens in a new tab) - 10GMHBA Accident Only Hospital (Basic)$1,092 a year
$108.45 a month listed · Basic · $750 excess
Go to GMHBA (opens in a new tab)
The cheapest policy covers very little.
Basic policies exist to avoid the surcharge. Most pay for little beyond accidents or a short list of treatments, often as a private patient in a public hospital. The calculator works out your own surcharge and loading, then finds the cheapest policy that covers the treatments you pick.
Work out mine →The cheapest at each level of cover
Hospital policies come in tiers set by the Government, from Basic to Gold. Each tier up covers more treatments. The cheapest policy at each, for one adult in SA.
| Tier | Cheapest policy | A month | A year after rebate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | see-u Starter Hospital $750 Excess with Daily Co-Pay (Basic) | $98.81 | $995 |
| Basic Plus | HCi Basic Plus Hospital $750 excess | $107.15 | $1,079 |
| Bronze | ahm bronze no fuss | $123.80 | $1,247 |
| Bronze Plus | see-u Saver Hospital $750 Excess with Daily Co-Pay (Bronze Plus) | $122.36 | $1,232 |
| Silver | see-u Secure Hospital $750 Excess (Silver) | $161.88 | $1,630 |
| Silver Plus | ahm essentials silver plus | $159.25 | $1,604 |
| Gold | Mildura Health Five Star Gold $750 Excess - F4 | $248.55 | $2,503 |
The cheapest for a couple
The surcharge applies above $210,000 of combined income. Priced on $220,000, where the surcharge would be $2,200 a year and the rebate is 16.1%. That is less than the $2,100 the surcharge comes to at $210,000 of combined income.
- 1see-u Starter Hospital $750 Excess with Daily Co-Pay (Basic)$1,990 a year
$197.62 a month listed · Basic · $750 excess
Go to see-u (opens in a new tab) - 2ahm ambulance hospital (basic)$2,004 a year
$199.00 a month listed · Basic · $750 excess
Go to ahm (opens in a new tab) - 3GMHBA Frank Basic Accident Boost Hospital$2,054 a year
$204.00 a month listed · Basic · $750 excess
Go to Frank (opens in a new tab)
The cheapest for a family
The surcharge applies above $210,000 of combined income. Priced on $220,000, where the surcharge would be $2,200 a year and the rebate is 16.1%. That is less than the $2,100 the surcharge comes to at $210,000 of combined income.
- 1see-u Starter Hospital $750 Excess with Daily Co-Pay (Basic)$1,990 a year
$197.62 a month listed · Basic · $750 excess
Go to see-u (opens in a new tab) - 2ahm ambulance hospital (basic)$2,004 a year
$199.00 a month listed · Basic · $750 excess
Go to ahm (opens in a new tab) - 3GMHBA Frank Basic Accident Boost Hospital$2,054 a year
$204.00 a month listed · Basic · $750 excess
Go to Frank (opens in a new tab)
What counts, and what doesn't
The Medicare Levy Surcharge is 1% to 1.5% of income for people who earn more than $105,000 ($210,000 for couples and families) in 2026-27 and don’t hold private hospital cover. It is on top of the 2% Medicare levy everyone pays.
To avoid it you need hospital cover with an excess of no more than $750 for one adult or $1,500 for a couple or family. Extras cover on its own does not count. Every policy listed here does.
The surcharge is worked out by the day, so cover taken out part way through the financial year only removes the surcharge for the days you hold it.
If you are over 31 and have never held hospital cover, a Lifetime Health Cover loading of 2% for each year over 30 is added to these premiums. The hospital calculator adds it for your age.
Other states
Worked from the Australian Government’s Private Health Open Listing, 01-Nov-2026, with the same sums as the hospital calculator. Surcharge thresholds and rebate rates are the Australian Taxation Office’s for 2026-27. Restricted funds and corporate products are left out. How the sums work.
This is general information, not personal financial or tax advice. Confirm the premium, the excess and what is covered with the fund before you buy. Independent of every fund listed · No affiliate fees, no commissions.