Private Health Membership Signals Current System is Working
17 August 2011
PHIAC has just released its quarterly report for June 2011 and private health insurance membership is at a ten year high. The growth in the Private Health Insurance sector should send a signal to Government that Private Health Insurance is popular in the electorate; that the system is working; and the Government should maintain the existing Rebate and other incentives to keep Australia’s health system in balance.
In total, 11,901,915 people are now covered by private health insurance and this is an increase in insured persons of 0.8% over the previous quarter. Total policies increased by 1.2% resulting in 52.6% of the population now covered by private health insurance.
Membership
The total number of persons with private health insurance as at June 2011 is 10,255,675 with hospital treatment cover and 11,888,197 with general treatment cover (sometimes known as ancillary or extras).
- Currently, 45.3% of the Australian population have hospital treatment coverage, this being higher than the previous quarter (45.1%).
- Hospital treatment membership consists of 2.39 million single persons and 2.57 million families.
- The proportion of the population insured ranges from 36.4% in the Northern Territory to 56.1% in the Australian Capital Territory.
- Health funds provided for 69.58 million general treatment services for the year ending June 2011 at a benefit cost of $3.22 billion.
Benefits
For the 12 months ending June 2011, private health funds provided nearly $13 billion to Australian health care financing, of which $9.7 billion were paid to the Australian hospital system, which included:
- $6.1 billion to private hospitals
- $1.38 billion for prostheses items
- $682 million to public hospitals
- $3.22 billion for general treatment services
- $1.55 billion for medical services
This is an increase in hospital treatment benefits of 8.1% over the 12 months to June 2011 and an increase of 6.1% for general treatment benefits for the same period.
During the year to June 2011, hospital treatment benefits per person came to $944 on average (an increase of 5% from the previous year).
General treatment benefits per person during the year to June 2011 came to $302 on average (an increase of 2.3% from the previous year).
There is a marked difference between the distribution of benefits over age groups between hospital treatment and general treatment cover due to higher claiming rates in older age groups whilst general treatment benefits are more evenly spread over all ages.
22 August 2011
When I left school 1959 I joined Manchester Unity because my parents were members & the agent called to collect the payment but when he quit then HCF had opened an office in Bega so I became a member & I personally have had to claim for treatment twice thanks it is so comforting to know you’re there for me if I need you & Sharon & Donna at the Bega office are so Pleasant & helpfull even when I just drop in to say G’day.