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...
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Hospital Cover is a type of health insurance that helps you pay for the cost of treatment as a private patient in hospital. If you have Hospital Cover, you can choose to be treated as a private patient in a:
How do ambulances services work in WA? If you live in WA, you have to pay for being treated by paramedics and transported by ambulance. You can the current fees and changes for ambulance services in Western Australia on the St John WA Ambulance website. You do not have to pay for the service if...
How do ambulances services work in VIC? If you live in VIC, you have to pay for being treated by paramedics and transported by ambulance. You can find the current fees and charges for ambulance services in Victoria on Ambulance Victoria’s website. You do not have to pay for ambulance services if you hold: You...
How do ambulances services work in TAS? If you live in TAS and you are in the state or its islands, you do not have to pay for being treated by paramedics and transported by ambulance. The Tasmanian Government covers the costs of ambulance services for Tasmanian residents. The exceptions are if you have: If...
How do ambulances services work in SA? If you live in SA, you have to pay for being treated by paramedics and transported by ambulance. You can find SA’s current fees and charges for ambulance services on the SA Ambulance Service website. You do not have to pay for the service if you hold a:...
How do ambulances services work in QLD? If you live in QLD, you do not have to pay for being treated by paramedics and/or transported by ambulance. The Queensland Government covers all ambulance costs for Queensland residents. This cover extends to Queenslanders who need ambulance services when they visit the other states and territories. If...
How do ambulance services work in the NT? If you live in the NT, you have to pay for being treated by paramedics and transported by ambulance. You can find the current fees and charges for ambulance services on St John NT Ambulance’s website. You do not have to pay for the service if you hold...
How do ambulance services work in NSW? If you live in NSW, you have to pay for being treated by paramedics and transported by ambulance. You can find the current fees and charges for ambulance services in NSW on NSW Ambulance’s website. You do not have to pay for ambulance services if you hold a:...