PMID: 15362292Sep 15, 2004Paper

Why it is time to review the role of private health insurance in Australia

Australian Health Review : a Publication of the Australian Hospital Association
Leonie Segal

Abstract

The role of private health insurance (PHI) within the Australian health-care system is urgently in need of comprehensive review. Two decades of universal health cover under Medicare have meant a change in the function of PHI, which is not reflected in policies to support PHI nor in the public debate around PHI. There is increasing evidence that the series of policy adjustments introduced to support PHI have served to undermine rather than promote the efficiency and equity of Australia's health care system. While support for PHI has been justified to 'take pressure off the public hospital system' and to facilitate choice of insurer and private provider', and the incentives have indeed increased PHI membership, this increase comes at a high cost relative to benefits achieved. The redirection of hospital admissions from the public to private hospitals is small, with a value considerably less than 25% of the cost of the policies. The Commonwealth share of the health care budget has increased and the relative contribution from private health insurance is lower in 2001-02, despite an increase in PHI membership to nearly 45% of the population, compared with the 30% coverage in 1998. The policies have largely directed subsidies to thos...Continue Reading

Citations

Nov 9, 2005·Australia and New Zealand Health Policy·Rachael E Moorin, C D'Arcy J Holman
Nov 13, 2012·PloS One·Kristjana EinarsdóttirFiona J Stanley
Aug 29, 2013·Australian Dental Journal·D S BrennanD N Teusner
Sep 1, 2012·Australian Health Review : a Publication of the Australian Hospital Association·Peter E Thomas
Nov 13, 2017·Australian Health Review : a Publication of the Australian Hospital Association·Joanna KhooKathy Eagar
Dec 4, 2012·Australian Health Review : a Publication of the Australian Hospital Association·Davinia S E SeahMatthew H R Anstey
Jul 14, 2017·Applied Health Economics and Health Policy·P Marcin SowaPaul A Scuffham
Sep 11, 2009·The Medical Journal of Australia·Steven J Lewis, Stephen R Leeder
Aug 15, 2017·International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology·Susan P JacupsKate M McConnon

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