Latest News

Legislation to Means Test 30% Rebate passed through Lower House

15 February 2012

Thank you for your continued support of the 30 % Rebate and Private Health Insurance.

Unfortunately, the legislation to means test the rebate passed through the lower house today and now an uncertain period lies… Read more

Dr Armitage talks to 2UE to discuss the flawed figures on which the Government has based its decision to Means Test the Rebate

10 February 2012

Transcript

Station: 2UE , Date: 10/02/2012 , Program: Breakfast, Time: 07:21 AM
Compere: Jason Morrison

Item: Dr Armitage says the figures on which the Government has based its decision to means test the health insurance rebate are flawed.

Interviewees: Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for Health (excerpt); Dr Michael Armitage, CEO, Private Healthcare Australia Read more

Government Means Testing Modelling Flawed

9 February 2012

An independent report released today exposes flawed Treasury modelling in relation to the Government’s proposal to means-testing the 30% Rebate on Private Health Insurance.“Members of Parliament still making up their minds on this important issue need to realise that the Treasury figures on which the Government is relying are fanciful and should not be used as a basis for making a decision which will disadvantage their constituents,” said Private Healthcare Australia CEO, Dr Michael Armitage. Read more

Over 11 million people have access to better quality healthcare

5 December 2011

Australia's Health Funds are helping over 11 million Australians access better quality healthcare.

The latest figures released by PHIAC for the September 2011 Quarterly Statistics indicate that Australians value their private health insurance… Read more

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Media Releases

Public and Private Health Hurt by Rebate Cuts

15 February 2012

Private Healthcare Australia warns that an uncertain period lies ahead for Australia’s health system.

The passage of the means-testing legislation through the Lower House signals a shift in the balance of Australian healthcare.

The consequence… Read more

Government Means Testing Modelling Flawed

9 February 2012

An independent report released today exposes flawed Treasury modelling in relation to the Government’s proposal to means-testing the 30% Rebate on Private Health Insurance.“Members of Parliament still making up their minds on this important issue need to realise that the Treasury figures on which the Government is relying are fanciful and should not be used as a basis for making a decision which will disadvantage their constituents,” said Private Healthcare Australia CEO, Dr Michael Armitage. Read more

Australians Value Private Health Insurance

17 November 2011

More and more Australians are taking out Private Health Insurance because they value freedom of choice, their right to a choice of doctor, hospital and timing of their surgery.

The CEO of the AHIA, Dr… Read more

MyHospitals Website Update Welcomed

27 October 2011

The Chief Executive of the Australian Health Insurance Association, Dr Michael Armitage today welcomed the Government’s decision to publish hospital acquired infection rates on the MyHospitals website as an important step towards improving health outcomes… Read more

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Interviews & Transcripts

Dr Armitage talks to 2UE to discuss the flawed figures on which the Government has based its decision to Means Test the Rebate

10 February 2012

Transcript

Station: 2UE , Date: 10/02/2012 , Program: Breakfast, Time: 07:21 AM
Compere: Jason Morrison

Item: Dr Armitage says the figures on which the Government has based its decision to means test the health insurance rebate are flawed.

Interviewees: Tanya Plibersek, Federal Minister for Health (excerpt); Dr Michael Armitage, CEO, Private Healthcare Australia Read more

Dr Michael Armitage talks to 4BC re Federal Government plan to wipe out part of Private Health Insurance Subsidy

23 August 2011

 TranscriptStation:4BCDate:22/08/2011Program:DriveTime:04:23 PMCompere:

… Read more

Dr Michael Armitage talks to 2UE Re Government plans to remove Private Health Rebate

16 August 2011

Michael Armitage of the Australian Health Insurance Association talks about the Federal Government's plans to remove the private health rebate.Interviewees: Michael Armitage, Australian Health Insurance Association Read more

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Stats & Data

Episodes of Service and Utilisation of Private Health Insurance – Sept 2011

21 December 2011

Private health insurers paid benefits for 3.37 million hospital episodes in the year ending September 2011, with associated bed days numbering 9.27 million (PHIAC Quarterly Statistics Sept 2011)

Episodes of Care

Of these, 2.85… Read more

Benefits Paid to Members Sept 2011

20 December 2011

The total benefits paid by private health insurance funds for all types of hospital and general treatment services in the year ending September 2011 was $13.374 billion (PHIAC Quarterly Report).

This comprised of $10.02… Read more

Private Health Insurance Membership – Sept 2011

19 December 2011

As at 30 September 2011, PHIAC Quarterly Report showed that a total of 12,024,482 persons held some form of private health insurance with the overall private health insurance coverage of the Australian population being… Read more

Utilisation of Private Hospital Insurance Benefits – PHIAC June 2011

26 September 2011

Hospital accommodation benefits paid by private health insurers for episodes in freestanding day surgeries in the year ending June 2011 equaled $625 per bed day and $625 per episode. Hospital accommodation benefits paid for public… Read more

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Submissions

Private Health Insurance Industry Submission on PCEHR Legislation Paper

24 August 2011

The Australian Government is establishing electronic health records with the aim of delivering benefits for patients and clinicians across Australia. The personally controlled electronic health record (PCEHR) system is proposed to enable better access to… Read more

AHIA’s Position Paper on Reinsurance High Cost Claims

27 June 2006

AHIA engaged KPMG to work with the AHIA Reinsurance Steering Group to develop an industry agreed system of reinsurance for Private Health Insurance. The Steering group consisted of AHIA and HIRMAA members. Read more

AHIA’s Position Paper on Out of Hospital Gate Care

27 March 2006

The Australian Health Insurance Association (AHIA) understands there is a strong possibility that the Federal Government will legislate to enable health funds to purchase services outside the current hospital environment to provide members with greater healthcare options. Read more

AHIA’s Position Paper on Informed Financial Consent (IFC)

2 March 2006

The lack of Informed Financial Consent (IFC) provided to health fund contributors by medical practitioners continues to be a significant problem in Australia. While this is acknowledged as an issue for all consumers, those with private health insurance coverage have additional concerns that, in spite of their private health insurance coverage, they can still face unexpected out-of-pocket expenses they would not have if they went into a public hospital as a public patient. Read more

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Research Papers

Impact of Means Testing the Private Health Insurance Rebate

17 May 2011

ANOP Research Services Pty Ltd was commissioned by the Australian Health Insurance Association to conduct a detailed survey of the private health insurance (PHI) population regarding the federal government's plans to means test the private health insurance rebate and associated policy changes. The AHIA wanted a reliable indication of the likely impact of the planned changes on private health insurance membership and levels of cover. Read more

Economic Impact Assessment of the Proposed Reforms to Private Health Insurance

13 May 2011

Deloitte was engaged by the Australian Health Insurance Association to conduct analysis considering the potential economic impacts of introducing a means test on the 30% rebate on private health insurance. The analysis is based on results of a national survey conducted by ANOP/Newspoll of 2,000 households in early Feb 2011. Read more

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Events

AHIA National Conference 2010

8 November 2010

The Australian Health Insurance Association Annual Conference for 2010 promises to provoke positive discussion about ways in which the Industry can influence Health Outcomes for all Australians, because of the interdependent nature of the Private and Public systems. Read more

AHIA National Conference 2009

10 November 2009

A broad and thought-provoking Conference Program has been created to encompass the theme of "Private Health Insurance: Investing In The Future". Read more

AHIA National Conference 2008

7 October 2008

The 2008 Annual Conference of the Australian Health Insurance Association will focus on "Making the Case for Quality".When the issue of “Quality” is discussed by the wide variety of players in the Health Care arena, competing interests frequently come to the fore. Are the interests of Consumers, Providers and Funders mutually exclusive? Can they be better aligned? Read more

AHIA National Conference 2007

8 October 2007

The Annual Conference of the Australian Health Insurance Association will explore ways in which Private Health Care will be provided a decade from now, in an “Over the Horizon” scan of the challenges ahead. Key issues include the future health needs and demands of the Australian community, the burgeoning capabilities and price of Technology, the opportunity for improved care with a focus on Quality and Safety, and the future forms the Industry itself may take over the next decade. Read more

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