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...
Cost of health insurance will rise 3.7% on 1 AprilHealth 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...
Health insurers criticised for using ‘loophole’ to raise pricesAustralian 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...
Aussies hit with higher out-of-pocket paymentsAustralians 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....
Aussies warned about ‘double dipping’ by medical specialistsIf 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...
NSW residents may face higher bill for health cover next yearA ‘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...
Premiums predicted to rise by $114 a yearHospital Cover premiums could be set to rise, due to a ‘health tax’ introduced in NSW this week. The NSW Government has introduced laws to force private health insurers to pay the correct rate for single rooms in public hospitals. The government says some private health insurers have not been paying the correct rate, with...
Claims for private hospital procedures rise, APRA report findsMore and more Australians are seeking private hospital treatment, new data has shown. The latest statistics from industry regulator Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) revealed a 5.1% increase in hospital treatment episodes claimed on health insurance in the 12 months from July 2023 to June 2024. Health insurers paid more than $18 million in claims...
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If you have a dependant with a disability your insurer may increase the price of your health insurance.
For the purposes of Private Health Insurance, the Australian government defines a dependant with a disability as a person aged 18 or over who is a participant in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). However insurers have the discretion to cover people with a disability who are not participating in the NDIS.
Check with your health insurer whether it charges an extra fee to cover dependants with a disability.
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