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Australian Healthcare Insurance Market Update 2026

Key insurance market trends and insights for healthcare providers

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What is shaping the Australian healthcare insurance market in 2026?

The Australian healthcare insurance market in 2026 is being shaped by heightened regulatory oversight, ongoing digital health change and a risk environment that continues to attract close insurer attention.

Over the last 12 months, the healthcare industry and its various sub-sectors have navigated numerous regulatory changes, including the implementation of the new Aged Care Act, NDIS reforms, cosmetic procedure regulations, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency’s (AHPRA) National Scheme Strategy 2031 and the Sexual Misconduct Register.

Additionally, ongoing legislative reforms in the cybersecurity space continue to put pressure on the healthcare sector. The Cyber Security Act 2024 and its mandatory ransomware incident reporting requirements, hospitals designated as critical infrastructure under the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018 facing enhanced compliance obligations, and the implementation of Privacy Act 1988 amendments are all likely to further increase healthcare providers’ obligations and risk exposures.

How has the healthcare insurance market changed in 2026?

Our Australian Healthcare Insurance Market Update 2026 provides a current view of market conditions and trends across the healthcare sector, combining local insights, coverage and underwriting developments, and practical guidance to support renewal planning and risk decisions.

While competition remains for well-managed healthcare organisations, outcomes continue to vary by sector and risk profile. Underwriters are placing greater emphasis on governance, safeguarding and conduct frameworks, particularly across aged care, NDIS-related services and settings with higher patient vulnerability. Cyber risk also remains a key focus, with healthcare continuing to top the list as the industry with the highest number of reported data breaches in Australia. Insurers are asking more detailed questions of organisations using telehealth and AI-enabled tools, including expectations around technology governance, clinical oversight and liability allocation between providers and vendors.

Insurance classes covered in this report:

  • Medical malpractice insurance
  • Directors and officers liability insurance
  • Cyber insurance
  • Workers’ compensation insurance

What this update includes

Pulse

Healthcare insurance market trends and outlook

Money coins

Coverage and pricing developments

Research paper

Insurer appetite and market influences

Circle containing checkmark

Tips on maximising renewal outcomes

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Download the Australian Healthcare Insurance Market Update to access the latest insights, trends, and expert advice tailored to healthcare providers and organisations.

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FAQs

Our Healthcare Insurance Market Update 2026 is an industry-specific report that provides insights into insurance market trends, coverage developments and risk management strategies within the Australian healthcare sector. It’s an addendum to our Australian Insurance Market Update, and an essential resource for healthcare providers, brokers and risk managers seeking to understand current market conditions and emerging industry risks.

Key risks include regulatory scrutiny and enforcement activity, clinical risk and medical malpractice exposures, cyber security and data breach risk, workforce and contractor liability considerations, and safeguarding and abuse risk (particularly in higher-risk care environments).

Early engagement and clear preparation remain important. Organisations that can demonstrate strong governance, well-developed safeguarding controls, sound claims and incident management, and mature cyber security practices tend to be better positioned to secure favourable renewal outcomes. Providing a clear, well-structured submission with supporting evidence is increasingly important.

Common focus areas include medical malpractice and clinical risk, cyber liability and incident response, D&O exposures linked to governance and regulatory action, and safeguarding and abuse cover (where relevant and available). It is also important to confirm how policies respond to the use of contractors and labour-hire arrangements to reduce potential gaps in cover.

Staying informed about insurer appetite shifts and emerging risks allows healthcare providers to adapt their risk management strategies, invest in preventative measures and select appropriate coverage solutions to mitigate potential claims and operational disruptions.

Competitive conditions continue for preferred risks, while higher-risk segments can attract tighter underwriting and more variable outcomes. Many organisations are also reviewing package policies and consolidated program structures to improve efficiency and reduce unintended coverage gaps, particularly where cyber, liability, safeguarding and management exposures intersect.

Our people

Samir Sofat

Samir Sofat

Healthcare Practice Leader, Marsh Pacific

  • Australia

Related insights

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Australian Healthcare Insurance Market Update 2025
Australian Insurance Market Update 2026

Australian Insurance Market Update 2026

It is important to note that reported pricing changes are averages observed in the first half of 2026. The data used to estimate the changes cover a wide range of clients in terms of size, industry, location, claims history and other parameters. Many clients received pricing changes that deviated from the average, some higher and some lower.

This publication is not intended to be taken as advice regarding any individual situation and should not be relied upon as such. The information contained herein is based on sources we believe reliable, but we make no representation or warranty as to its accuracy. Marsh shall have no obligation to update this publication and shall have no liability to you or any other party arising out of this publication or any matter contained herein. Any statements concerning actuarial, tax, accounting, or legal matters are based solely on our experience as insurance brokers and risk consultants and are not to be relied upon as actuarial, accounting, tax, or legal advice, for which you should consult your own professional advisors. Any modelling, analytics, or projections are subject to inherent uncertainty, and any analysis could be materially affected if any underlying assumptions, conditions, information, or factors are inaccurate or incomplete or should change.

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