Private hospital insurance
For the first time since December 1982, more than 10 million Australians have private hospital insurance.
Figures released today also show that a high proportion of Australians are continuing to take out private health insurance, demonstrating the strength of the sector.
The Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon, welcomed the milestone and again foreshadowed the Gillard Government’s intention to better target the Private Health Insurance Rebate away from the richest in society.
“An additional 243,000 people have taken out private hospital coverage over the past year, raising the total to 10.06 million Australians,” Ms Roxon said.
“The proportion of Australians with private hospital insurance has also increased to 44.8%, up from 44.6% in the June quarter, the highest rate since March 2001.”
“This growth in private health insurance points to the strength in the sector and disproves the Opposition’s political furphies on this topic,” Ms Roxon said.
“When we made changes to the Medicare Levy Surcharge, they predicted a million people would drop out. We’ve now seen over 670,000 people join under Labor.”
“We are committed to our changes that will ensure Government subsidies through the rebate are not directed towards the richest in society—and remain focussed on the millions of low and middle income Australians who need and deserve assistance.”
“If the changes do not go ahead, Treasury modelling indicates this will cost the budget $100 billion over the next four decades.”
“This is funding that could lead to more investment in doctors, nurses and hospital beds.”
Under the Government’s proposed changes, the Private Health Insurance Rebate will be provided to all singles earning up to $124,000 per year, or couples on less than $248,000.
Treasury modelling estimates that, after these changes, 99.7 per cent of people will remain in private health insurance.
The figures released today by the Private Health Insurance Administration Council (PHIAC) show that, in the September 2010 quarter:
o 10,064,043 people (44.8 per cent of the population) were covered by hospital treatment policies, an increase of 90,179 from June 2010
o 11,647,801 people (51.8 per cent of the population) were covered by general treatment policies, an increase of 106,100 from June 2010
o 11,666,700 people (51.9 per cent of the population) were covered by either hospital, general, or hospital and general treatment combined policies, an increase of 105,401 from June this year.
For more information on the latest PHI membership statistics visit www.phiac.gov.au
Information for consumers on insurance is available at www.privatehealth.gov.au
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