Media Releases

Private Healthcare Australia has welcomed the Federal Government’s consultation on potential reforms to Australia’s private health sector, saying the process provides an important opportunity to strengthen the long-term sustainability of the system while protecting the affordability of private health insurance.

Patients considering using their private health insurance in a public hospital will receive clearer, more consistent information about their rights from today, with the rollout of a new national claim form backed by private health insurers to improve transparency around private patient elections.

Serious gaps in the Government’s understanding of who will be affected by its plan to cut the higher health insurance rebate for older Australians have been exposed at Budget Estimates this week.

Australians with health insurance are being urged to ask surgeons about their fees before committing to surgery, amid new data showing enormous differences in what patients are being charged for the same procedure.

More than three million older Australians – including more than 400,000 pensioners with private health insurance – will be hit by the Albanese Government’s decision to cut private health insurance rebates for Australians aged over 65 in tonight’s Federal Budget.

Private Healthcare Australia (PHA) has warned the Federal Government’s proposed changes to the private health insurance rebate for older Australians could threaten the viability of dozens of private hospitals that regional communities rely on for essential healthcare.

Older Australians could be hit with health insurance price rises three times higher than younger Australians from April next year, with some retirees facing annual increases of more than $1,600, analysis from Private Healthcare Australia shows.

Health insurers are calling on the Government to exempt Australians aged over 65 on low incomes — including those on the Age Pension — from changes to the Private Health Insurance Rebate, warning the move could force vulnerable people to drop their cover.

The Government’s decision to cut the Private Health Insurance Rebate will disappoint thousands of older Australians, says Dr Rachel David, CEO of Private Healthcare Australia.

New national data reveals Australians rely on private hospital care at every stage of life – from neonatal intensive care for newborns, mental health treatment for young adults, and joint replacements that help older Australians stay independent.

The rising cost of Gold health insurance policies highlights the deeper challenges Australia’s health system is facing as the population ages and the cost of delivering care continues to soar.

Health insurance premiums will rise by an average of 4.41% from April 1, reflecting rising claims and higher costs of delivering healthcare.

Private Healthcare Australia has welcomed the Federal Government’s legislation to upgrade the Medical Costs Finder website, saying it is a critical step toward tackling Australia’s growing specialist fee crisis.

Australians are demanding urgent action to curb rising medical specialist fees which are forcing a growing number of people to delay or abandon vital medical care.

Australian private health insurers have returned almost $4.8 billion to members in claims savings and givebacks since the Covid-19 pandemic, independent figures released today show.

Health insurers paid out a record $9.4 billion in ‘high claims’ for hospital treatment exceeding $10,000 in 2024, a new analysis of health fund data shows.

Australians are facing soaring medical bills for common private hospital procedures, with some costing nine times more than they did five years ago, data from Private Healthcare Australia (PHA) shows.

Data on private hospital licenses and expansions shows Australia’s private mental health sector is continuing to expand.

ACT residents with private health insurance are being hit with excessive out-of-pocket costs for opting to use their insurance in a public hospital.

Canberrans with health insurance will be slugged $180 a year from January – or $360 for families – after the ACT Government quietly increased its so-called ‘ambulance levy’ in this year’s Budget.