Posted by Michael Wonder on 19 Dec 2018
As health insurance premiums rise again, consumer focus will be on value
19 December 2018 - The average 3.25 per cent rise in health insurance premiums announced today brings a respite from the higher increases of previous years and it is to be hoped will be accompanied by an easing in out of pocket costs incurred by insured consumers, the Consumers Health Forum says.
While the rise in premiums is the lowest in 18 years, it will typically add about $160 a year in costs to households many of whom have gone without a wage rise for some years, the CEO of the Consumers Health Forum, Leanne Wells, said.
“But with the squeezing in cover of many policies and the prevalence of out of pocket costs that people on private cover are facing, consumers will want to see value for money for the thousands of dollars they pay out in premiums each year.
