The government has announced it will investigate health insurers for using a loophole to raise their prices. In December last year, Minister of Health Mark Butler warned health insurers to stop ‘phoenixing’ policies after a Commonwealth Ombudsman report brought the practice to light. By law, health insurers can only raise prices once a year, but...
Most Australians will pay more for health insurance next week due to a reduction in a rebate designed to make health cover cheaper. Cuts to the Private Health Insurance Rebate take effect on April 1 at the same time as most policies are increasing in price by an average of 3.7% – which adds up...
Out-of-pocket payments for Private Health Insurance claims continue to rise, putting more pressure on Australian households during the cost-of-living crisis. New data from Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), which regulates the health insurance industry, found a 7% increase in Gaps paid for Hospital Cover claims for the quarter finishing December 2024, compared with the same...
Health insurance will increase by an average of 3.7% in April – the highest premium increase since 2018. Every year health insurers are allowed to raise their premiums only once. This year, Minister of Health Mark Butler rejected insurers’ proposed increases (reportedly up to 6%) at least twice before agreeing on an average premium increase...
Australian private health insurers have been criticised for using a loophole to raise the prices of Gold Cover policies. This week the Commonwealth Ombudsman found evidence some insurers have been raising prices through ‘product phoenixing’ – closing existing policies to new customers, and creating almost identical policies at a higher price. As a result, new...
Australians with Private Health Insurance are paying higher out-of-pocket payments for hospital treatment than a year ago, new data shows. The latest statistics from Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), which regulates the health insurance industry, show out-of-pocket fees for private hospital treatment increased by 8% in the 12 months from October 2023 to September 2024....
If you’ve used health insurance to pay for surgery in a private hospital or clinic, check your bill to make sure you haven’t been charged a Gap incorrectly. That’s the advice from Private Healthcare Australia, the peak body for the health insurance industry, after allegations that some specialists (including surgeons and anaesthetists) have been ‘double...
A ‘health tax’ passed by NSW government last week means NSW residents could face higher premiums for health insurance in 2025. The new legislation means the state government can increase its existing tax on private health insurance if insurers do not agree to pay a higher ‘bed rate’ of $892 for private patients in public...
CEO and Founder
Chief Operating Officer
Chief Technical Officer
Writer and Researcher
UX/UI Designer
Brand and Graphic Designer
Led by Chris Payne
If you, or someone you love, is living with arthritis, you’re far from alone. Arthritis is the third most common chronic condition in Australia, according to the ABS, and reportedly affects 3.7 million of us. Arthritis is a term encompassing many different forms of conditions that affect the joints and cause inflammation, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid...
If you, or someone you love, has been diagnosed with cancer, we hope you have lots of support around you. The word ‘cancer’ is news that no one wants to hear, yet 452 Australians are diagnosed with this illness every day. You might be feeling a bit overwhelmed, so we’re here to give you the...
If you have Private Health Insurance and you’re being admitted to hospital for a procedure or treatment, don’t assume your insurer will cover all your Hospital Cover costs. Whether you’re going in as a private patient in a private hospital, or a private patient in a public hospital, you may need to pay some costs...
Knee replacements are one of the most common elective surgeries in Australia, with around 53,000 performed a year for osteoarthritis. For those people, and those with knee injuries, knee replacement surgery can be life-changing, giving back mobility and flexibility… but they often have to wait several months for it. For that reason, having Hospital Cover...
If you’re among the many Australians awaiting a hip replacement, you’re in good company. Around 35,500 total hip replacements are done every year in Australia, and for those who go through a public hospital, the average wait is around 175 days. That’s a long time to be in pain and having trouble walking – so...
Baby names, schools and nursery furniture… there’s a lot to consider when you’re getting ready to be a parent. One of the things you’ll need to think about – sooner, rather than later – is what medical care you (or your partner) will want during pregnancy, where you’ll give birth and what healthcare professionals you’ll...
If you’re among the 1.3 million Australians living with diabetes, you’ll be very familiar with medical waiting rooms. Diabetes is a long-term condition requiring ongoing management and consultation with a team of healthcare professionals, so you’re probably wondering whether health insurance will cover the costs of living with diabetes. The short answer is yes, but...
If you’re moving to Australia for study, congratulations! We hope you’re excited about spending time in our country. As part of your temporary student visa, you must have Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which is a type of health insurance that covers your GP visits, some hospital treatments, some medicines as well as ambulance treatment...