Government survey re private health cover

ADA Inc. has urged members to take part in the Federal Government's survey on peoples' attitudes to private health insurance (PHI. 

President, Dr Rick Olive, in a message to members, said the "review ... is a chance for a long overdue public discussion about whether consumers are receiving value for money for their PHI contributions".  

The survey, open to all, asks if people should be charged differently for private insurance based on gender, age and smoking status, and if private health insurers should be allowed to cover GP visits, tests such as x-rays, CAT scans, MRIs and community-based palliative care.

The survey runs until December 4. 

Health Minister Sussan Ley said she was committed to the system of community rating for health insurance policies, but is asking if that should be the case in the future. Under community ratings everyone pays the same premium for health insurance.

Ms Ley said: “This Government is committed to recalibrating the private health system so that value for money for consumers returns to being its core focus and we’re interested in the views of everyday Australians on how best to do that”.