Understand the True Cost of Illness in Australia

Personal insurance pays when serious illness or injury hits. Most claims trace back to the same small set of conditions, and the pages below set out what each one typically costs an Australian household.

Cost figures are drawn from Zurich's Cost of Care research, so the numbers reflect Australian population averages rather than US- or UK-sourced figures. Conditions are grouped into categories (heart and cardiovascular, cancer, autoimmune, mental health, neurological, injury, vision disorders, long COVID, and others) so you can read across a related cluster.

Where a condition commonly intersects with insurance, the page explains how the cover types respond: trauma cover for diagnosis-based triggers, income protection for time off work, and TPD where the long-term outcome permanently prevents return to work. Underwriting outcomes for pre-existing conditions vary by insurer, so the guidance is qualitative rather than insurer-specific.

The information is general and not a personal recommendation. Cost figures are population averages and vary widely between individuals. To compare insurer appetite for a known condition, generate an indicative quote or book a call.