The Australian Medical Association (AMA), an advocacy group for doctors, says private health insurance no longer provides value for money, and wants the government to overhaul the industry. The association’s annual Private Health Insurance Report Card, released today, found premium prices had doubled over the past 16 years, outstripping health inflation.“Australians are paying more for their...
Increased claim costs are putting health insurers under pressure, new data shows. The latest figures from industry regulator, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), show $5.2 million was paid for hospital treatment claims in the September 2025 quarter – an 8.0% increase compared with the same quarter last year and much higher than the growth in...
Specialist fees for private hospital care in Australia have increased dramatically – in some cases, by as much as 9 times, new data shows. Figures from Private Healthcare Australia, the peak body for the health insurance industry, found that average out-of-pocket fees charged for treating private patients have surged by staggering amounts between 2018-19 and 2023-24. Average...
The Minister of Health has warned health insurers to focus on providing value to customers when they apply to increase their premiums over the next few weeks. Private health insurers are allowed to raise premiums once a year only, subject to government approval. Insurer applications for 2026 premium increases are due in November, with approved prices...
Some ACT residents are being hit with shock bills for public hospital treatment, new figures show. Following news this week that health insurance premiums for ACT residents may rise by at least $180 next year, an analysis of billing records has revealed the high Gaps being paid for Canberra hospital treatment. Data from Private Healthcare Australia...
With public hospitals under strain, health insurers are paying out greater sums for private patient treatment, new data shows. Quarterly health insurance statistics released by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, which regulates the industry, showed a significant increase in the amount paid for Hospital Cover claims in the June 2025 quarter. Health insurers paid $4.98 billion...
New data from the Australian Tax Office shows that the number of people being charged the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) has almost quadrupled over 6 years. Data found 768,537 Aussies paid the MLS in the 2022-23 financial year, up from 196,807 in 2017. An article in The Australian says the increase is due to rising wages. The...
Australians treated with natural therapies may soon be able to claim rebates on Extras Cover. Following a review completed last year, the government has reinstated 7 of the 16 natural therapies that were removed from private health insurance cover in 2019. The health insurance industry is now developing framework to cover: Private Healthcare Australia, the peak body for...
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So, you just got married. Congratulations! If you’ve been living together for a while, you might already have a joint bank account, but have you thought about a joint health insurance policy? Sure, it’s probably not your first priority after the wedding, but Health Insurance when you’re married is definitely worth considering. Before you and...
We asked chartered accountant and tax expert Marianna Agostino, director of Conscious Wealth Creation, for advice on how private health insurance could affect how much you pay (or get back from) the ATO. How the Medicare Levy Surcharge affects your tax return According to Marianna, the biggest mistake people make is taking out health insurance at the...
So, you’ve taken a look at your health insurance policy and have decided it’s not right for you. Maybe it doesn’t fit your budget, or maybe it’s not meeting your healthcare needs any longer. Whatever the reason you have to switch, we’re here to help you with changing health insurance, without the headaches. Should I change...
If you’re thinking about changing health insurers, we’ve got your back. You can change your policy and insurer whenever you like, and your right to do so is protected under the Private Health Insurance Act 2007. That means you can change insurers without being penalised, although you may have to serve new waiting periods on Extras...
You might change your wardrobe every season, and might also switch jobs on a regular basis. But when it comes to health insurance, most Aussies are a little resistant to change. In a 2021 University of Melbourne study of health insurance habits, researchers noted that once people choose a health insurance policy, they tend to...
If you’re aged 60-plus, you might be hearing a few more creaks and groans from your body than you used to, and you may be finding yourself attending more medical appointments than in previous years. For that reason, you might be considering getting private health insurance. And if you already have health cover, you may...
Most Australians have tried a diet at some point in their lives, which means many have discovered that crash dieting and programs which promise quick results are rarely successful in the long term. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, more than 2.3 million Australians over the age of 15 were on a...
With many Australian households under financial pressure, you might be wondering whether you should ditch your health insurance to save money. Before you take that step, there’s an option you may not have considered: taking a break from your health insurance. It’s a little-known fact that health insurers allow you to hit pause on your policy,...