| Publication: | The Australian |
|---|---|
| Date: | 19 February 2009 |
| Section: | Money Matters |
Article excerpt:
CANBERRA has secured extra ammunition in its battle to contain health fund premiums after insurers reported their highest membership rate in seven years. An extra 55,000 people took out hospital cover in the final three months of last year, defying an economic downturn and warnings that changes to the Medicare levy surcharge would cripple the industry. The percentage of privately-insured Australians rose to 44.8 per cent at the end of December, up from the revised figure of 44.7 per cent at the end of September.
Private health insurance coverage increased across all age groups, with singles recording the largest increase in hospital policies, the data shows.
