Posted by Michael Wonder on 20 Aug 2019
Private health insurance woes escalate as premiums, out-of-pocket costs rise
20 August 2019 - The Morrison government is facing an escalating affordability crisis in private health insurance, as premiums continue to rise faster than wages, out-of-pocket costs mount and new discounts fail to lure young people.
Australians are paying an average $315 out of pocket every time they go to the hospital, according to the latest quarterly data from the Australia Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), up 1.9% over the 12 months to June 30.
Health insurance premiums rose 2.77% over the June quarter, while wage growth was stagnant at 2.3%.
