Health Insurance - Page 5
X reactions: Should you opt in or opt out of My Health Record?
Debate over the benefits and risks of My Health Record is raging on social media as the deadline to opt out looms. Some Australians have security concerns, while others argue the national digital system could reduce medical errors and save lives. From Friday, a digital record of your medical history will be automatically created unless you choose to opt out. The opt-out deadline was originally in November, however Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt extended it to the end of January, after many people reported having trouble accessing the website and getting through to the telephone helpline to opt out. Soon after the deadline was extended, the … Continued
Private health premiums set to rise by 3.25% in 2019
Private health insurance customers will be slugged with premium increases after the federal government announced an average hike of 3.25% for 2019. While the average cost of health insurance will go up, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said this will be the lowest increase in 18 years when it comes into effect on April 1. “This premium change will see a single person pay an average of $1.14 extra per week and a family on average will pay $2.35 more,” he said in a statement today. But the opposition’s health spokeswoman Catherine King said this latest hike will add further strain … Continued
My Health Record opt-out deadline extended to end of January
At the eleventh hour, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has extended the My Health Record opt-out deadline to 31 January. Every Australian with a Medicare card initially had a four-month window to opt out – with the deadline originally being tomorrow night – otherwise a digital record of their medical history would be automatically created as part of the My Health Record system. Mr Hunt extended the deadline today as a flurry of people took to social media to highlight problems with the website and telephone helpline when trying to opt out. His decision also comes after the Senate supported extending … Continued
Legal group warns My Health Record may put vulnerable children at risk
A peak legal group is concerned domestic violence perpetrators could access the whereabouts of their children through the My Health Record system. The Law Council of Australia has warned that the Australian Government’s My Health Record system may allow parents with Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders access to their children’s medical information and address. The body of legal professionals’ warning follows news that nearly one million people have opted out of the system ahead of the 15 November deadline. Under the system, Australians with a Medicare card will automatically have an online medical record created for them unless they opt out. … Continued
Unions urge workers to opt out of My Health Record
A number of Australian unions are urging members to consider opting out of the online national database My Health Record over fears employers could access the information. The Rail, Tram & Bus Union (RTBU) and the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), made up of 38 unions, have expressed concern about employers gaining access to workers’ medical records and learning of conditions that have nothing to do with a person’s ability to do their job. RTBU National Secretary Bob Nanva said there were benefits to having a central location for healthcare professionals to access medical records and the federal government’s My Health … Continued
Government unveils new system to simplify health insurance
Health insurers will have to explain what consumers are covered for in one page and use a new ranking system, as part of a government plan to make policies easier to understand. Under new federal government reforms, insurers will have to categorise their health policies according to a four-tier system of gold, silver, bronze and basic from April next year. Gold and silver policies will be the costlier more comprehensive covers, while basic and bronze will be the more affordable options with less cover. Insurers will also have to use standard medical treatments terms. Health Minister Greg Hunt said this … Continued
ACCC: Australians frustrated by 'complex' health insurance policies
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has called for the health insurance industry to make its products more transparent and consumer-friendly in its annual report into the private health industry. The ACCC released its annual report for 2016-17 today, finding complex health insurance policies and unexpected out-of-pocket costs were leading to customers either abandoning their hospital policies or making complaints at an increased level. The report found customers were also shifting to lower-cost policies with greater exclusions or higher excesses. “Consumers rely on private health funds engaging with them honestly so they can avoid unexpected out-of-pocket costs and make … Continued
Kogan Health set to launch in early 2018
“Australia’s largest online retailer” Kogan has recently announced the introduction of its health insurance arm in early 2018. Following its launch of Kogan Insurance and Kogan Travel back in July, Kogan has now launched Kogan Health in partnership with insurance underwriters Medibank Group to offer budget health insurance policies. The initial agreement between the two companies will be in place for three years. Executive Director of Kogan, David Shafer said this partnership would hopefully bring some healthy competition to the health insurance industry. “Kogan.com is delighted to be partnering with Medibank and ahm, which together represent one of Australia’s largest health insurers,” he … Continued
HICAPS Go App Launched By NAB and Fintech Start-up Medipass
People living in Melbourne who have private health cover with Medibank and AHM can now find a local GP, get a quote, pay and claim their benefit with the HICAPS Go mobile app, dubbed the “Uber equivalent” for Aussie healthcare. Source: Medipass Today National Australia Bank (NAB) announced the launch of the HICAPS Go app in collaboration with Melbourne-based digital payments fintech start-up Medipass. The app leverages the current NAB-owned HICAPS payment and claiming terminal system seen at various healthcare practitioners, which allows healthcare providers to process private health insurance or Medicare claims on the spot at the time of payment. There … Continued
Mixed Responses To Health Insurance Overhaul
In the short time since the Government’s sweeping health insurance reforms were revealed, there’s been a mixed-bag of statements and responses. Here’s what we’ve heard from the biggest stakeholders in the wake of these momentous changes. Source: ABC News (X) Federal Government Health Minister Greg Hunt: Reforms make private healthcare “simpler and more affordable” One of the biggest discussion points to come out of the proposed changes is the 2% discount to premiums for every year a policy is held under age 30, up to a maximum discount of 10% until age 40. Health Minister Greg Hunt said the new discount will encourage … Continued
New Health Reforms & What They Mean For You
The Government is introducing a slew of changes to private health insurance - here's the lowdown on what they are and what they mean for you.
Millennials Keeping Private Health Sector Afloat
New research from Roy Morgan has found that millennials are responsible for nearly half of the growth seen in the private health insurance market since 2008.
Are You Falling Asleep On The Job? It’s Costing The Economy Billions
A new report commissioned by the Government shows that inadequate sleep is costing the economy more than $66 billion per year. The report, released by Deloitte Access Economics in collaboration with the Sleep Foundation, found that just under two in five (39.8%) of Australian adults are not getting the adequate sleep they need to live healthy, happy lives. In turn, more than half of these individuals were experiencing ongoing pathologically high levels of daytime sleepiness, which cost the country $66.3 billion in health bills, lost productivity, and well-being over the 2016/17 financial year. Professor Dorothy Bruck, Chair of the Sleep … Continued
New Drugs Added To PBS
Hepatitis C patients and sufferers of a rare white blood cell cancer have been given a reprieve with new Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) drug listings. Each year, around 800 Australians die from a Hepatitis C infection, and the Australian Government hopes to reverse this statistic by subsidising a new highly effective treatment. The drug, known as Epclusa, has an expected success rate of 90%, and will be subsidised by the Government from August 1st. This new listing on the PBS means that affected patients will only pay a maximum of $38.80 per month for the medication, with concession card holders paying … Continued
'Aussies Shifting To Lower-Cost, Lower-Benefit Health Policies' - ACCC
A consumer watchdog report into the private health insurance industry has found that people have trouble understanding their policies, and are starting to choose cheaper policies with lower benefits. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released a report today highlighting concerns around the affordability of private health insurance and the complexity of policy information. Based on 2015-16 information, the report found that 13.43 million Australians (over 55% of the population) have some form of private health cover, a small reduction in the percentage of people with health insurance. “Recent consumer surveys suggest that this is, in part, a result … Continued
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