<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Exclusive:</span></strong><span> Nearly one in three nine.com.au readers confessed they couldn't afford private </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/health-insurance" rel="" target="_blank" title="health insurance"><span>health insurance</span></a><span> even before this week's </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/april-one-financial-changes-australia-2026-private-health-insurance-energy-rebate-mortgage-rate-explained/144c4981-2270-48be-8661-bc6ef8b33ec4" rel="" target="_blank" title="major price hike"><span>major price hike</span></a><span>, according to an exclusive survey.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On Wednesday </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/health" rel="" target="_blank" title="health"><span>health</span></a><span> insurers across the nation increased premiums by an average of 4.41 per cent in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was the biggest hike since 2017 and will cost Australians an extra $80 to $160 a year, depending on their cover.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/easter-long-weekend-2026-whats-open-good-friday-trading-hours-coles-woolworths-aldi-explainer/066401e6-3e49-4175-9439-4da38006d30c" target="_blank"><strong><span>Easter trading hours 2026: When shops are open this long weekend</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Earlier this week, a survey from AI digital broker Konkrd suggested nearly one in four Aussies planned to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/health-insurance-premiums-increase-april-1-cancel-downgrade-switch-providers/9df5ccf7-0654-48bd-b60d-1a8a082e648f" rel="" target="_blank" title="downgrade or cancel their private health insurance"><span>downgrade or cancel their private health insurance</span></a><span> due to the hikes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But nine.com.au readers are telling a different story.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Up to 30 per cent of the 1121 respondents reported they didn't have private health insurance to begin with.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/health-insurance-price-hike-poll-exclusive-aussies-cant-afford-it/ea54255c-8039-488b-b2c7-d6d2ff9e2b48" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Many confessed it had become too expensive for them long before the latest price hike.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I haven't been able to afford health insurance for decades," one reader said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/easter-public-holiday-2026-dates-australia-explainer/a0cd0bb9-0bff-41a3-a412-6c13f9c2de94" target="_blank"><strong><span>The Easter long weekend is almost here - but not all Aussies get the same public holidays</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Another told nine.com.au they had cut out holidays, clothes shopping and other expenses and still couldn't afford private cover even before premiums increased.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Just over 10 per cent of nine.com.au readers who did have private health insurance said they cancelled their cover in response to this week's price hike.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A little more than half of them moved to a cheaper policy; the rest are now uninsured.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>About one in 10 respondents said they intend to cancel their current policy now that premiums have increased.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nearly 80 per cent said they plan to keep their current policy even though it costs more.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I'm too scared to cancel health insurance due to mine and my husband's age," one older Australian told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was a common concern among respondents aged 65 and over.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Being a mature age couple we would feel vulnerable without private health cover, as the waiting time for non urgent treatment can be months and even years," one said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Respondents who had decided to cancel or downgrade their cover said they just couldn't keep up with the rising cost of living.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/double-demerits-dates-2026-easter-long-weekend-state-by-state-penalties-fines/c3cd9f28-121f-48bb-a11c-fb84fb9f9ed7" target="_blank"><strong><span>All the roads where double demerits don't apply this Easter long weekend</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Paying for private health insurance on top of increased grocery, housing, and petrol prices just isn't feasible for many Aussies already struggling to make ends meet.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Many nine.com.au readers worry the situation is only going to get worse.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nearly 80 per cent of respondents said they were at least 'slightly worried' about being able to afford private health insurance going forward.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than one in three reported feeling 'very worried' about it.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Any further increases may require me to cancel insurance altogether, as being a pensioner it is becoming extremely difficult to cope with cost of living," one reader said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Close to half of respondents said they'd cut back on spending on holidays, clothes and other non-essentials to be able to afford private health insurance.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than 10 per cent said they'd be willing to cut back on essentials like groceries and rent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>The</span></em><span> </span><a href="http://nine.com.au" target="_blank"><em><span>nine.com.au</span></em></a><span> </span><em><span>poll, which runs once a fortnight, canvases the views of the Nine audience on 9Nation, which is an online community of our readers and viewers.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>The information provided on this website is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice. The information has been prepared without taking into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information on this website you should consider the appropriateness of the information having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>