Young Australians are deprioritising their health to keep up with the cost of friendship 

Young Australians are putting their health on the backburner as the rising cost of maintaining a social life forces difficult financial trade-offs, according to new research commissioned by Frank Health Insurance. 

The national survey of Australians aged 21 to 40i found the cost of dinners, concerts, birthdays, weddings and weekend getaways (what Frank is calling the “friendship tax”) is coming at the expense of preventative healthcare. 

Among the findings: 

  • 87% of people surveyed admitted they had attended social events because they felt obligated. 
  • Travel has emerged as the biggest budget buster, with 41% spending at least $250 a month on trips with friends and almost one in four spending more than $500. 
  • Dining out also remains a major expense, with nearly eight in 10 young Australians spending at least $100 each month on meals with friends, while more than one in four spend over $250. 
  • Even milestone celebrations are taking their toll, with almost six in 10 spending at least $100 every month on birthdays and one in five spending more than $250 attending weddings. 

As a result, more than one in three (35.3%) respondents admitted they had delayed or skipped a dental appointment because the cost of socialising had stretched their budget too far, while a similar proportion (34.3%) said they had sacrificed buying healthy food. 

Preventative healthcare is also taking a hit, with almost one in four delaying a visit to the GP (24%), one in five postponing mental health support (21.8%) or physiotherapy (19.5%), and one in seven putting off an eye test (14.5%). 

Rather than cutting back on healthcare, Frank Health Insurance is encouraging young Australians to take five minutes to review their finances and ensure they're getting value from their health cover. 

Frank is making health cover easy as, with straightforward products and no-nonsense service. Frank Brand Manager Nick Ilievski said while staying connected was important for mental wellbeing, it shouldn't come at the expense of looking after your health. 

“Social connection plays an important role in our wellbeing, but it shouldn't come at the expense of preventative health. Too many young Australians are feeling like they have to choose one or the other,” he said. 

“Putting off a dental appointment or eye check might seem like an easy saving in the short term, but preventative healthcare is often what helps avoid bigger health issues (and bigger bills) down the track.” 

The findings point to what Frank describes as “social FOMO”, with many Australians feeling compelled to spend money or attend social events to avoid missing out. 

Nearly 84% said they had secretly hoped social plans would be cancelled because they couldn't afford to attend, while 75% admitted checking their bank balance before replying to invitations. 

“Health insurance isn't something most people get excited about reviewing, but neither is paying more than you need to or missing out on benefits you're already entitled to,” Nick said. 

“If money is tight, it's worth checking whether your cover still suits your lifestyle before crossing healthcare off the budget altogether.” 

[1] 400 Australians aged 21 to 40 years were surveyed by Frank Health Insurance via Askable in July 2026

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