Federal Member for Forde, Bert van Manen MP encourages residents to have their say on how the private health insurance sector can deliver better value for money.
This week the Federal Government launched an online survey after Australians dumped or downgraded half a million ‘all-inclusive’ private health insurance policies last year, with record numbers flocking to cheaper cover with exclusions and excesses.
Mr van Manen said as well as asking private health customers, the Government was holding consultations with insurers, hospitals and doctors to discuss structural reform to the system.
“Private health insurance is a fundamental part of Australia’s health system, with half of our population having some form of cover.
“Any changes need to be delivered with a starting point that Medicare and the public hospital systems remain universally accessible to all and that taking out private health insurance was a complement – not a substitute – to those services.
“The Federal Government is committed to recalibrating the system so that value is the core focus and we want views from a broad section of our population on how to best achieve this.”
The survey is open now until December 4, 2015 at www.health.gov.au/PHconsultations2015-16