I got a bit of a shock when I saw my new health insurance premium this month. It had risen by $44. You think I'd be used to it by now. Three years ago my bill was $105 cheaper for exactly the same level of cover.

There's no doubt we're all feeling the pain of rising costs at the moment. That's why we've created this useful calculator to help you see if you're getting the best deal on your private health insurance. It's accompanied by an in-depth investigation  which found some family health insurance premiums (gold level) have now smashed into $1000-a-month territory. Australian Private Hospitals Association chief executive Brett Heffernan is accusing health funds of trying to price people out of gold cover. The health funds say the design of gold, silver and bronze level cover is deeply flawed and needs a major overhaul.

On the topic of major reform, we have plenty of important analysis to get you across the federal government’s plan to rein in the spiralling costs of the NDIS.  Samantha Maiden explores how the NDIS was never intended to be “an ATM for shonks, grifters, fraudsters and crooks”. Meanwhile Julie Cross, whose investigative reporting gives the disability community a voice every week,  has considered the human toll of the “brutal” plan to expel 160,000 people by 2030. Let us know what you think, or how it affects you, at health@news.com.au.

Lastly, if you love a good love story, then it’s worth taking a look at this piece about couples and singles who have found their romantic match by hiring a professional to set them up on blind dates. It's an interesting look inside this 'different' world of dating that spans across all age groups.