Article excerpt:

FEDERAL Labor says a coalition government would abolish the health minister's ability to scrutinise premium hikes proposed by private health funds, meaning costs would rise "unchecked". Health Minister Nicola Roxon made the claim following comments by opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey.

Mr Hockey - announcing the coalition would privatise Medibank Private - said the health insurance market wasn't "pure". "Ultimately, premium increases are the decision of the minister," he told the National Press Club.

... Ms Roxon said those comments amounted to a call to abolish ministerial oversight.

"Joe Hockey said an Abbott government would allow health insurance companies to raise premiums with no government oversight," she said in a statement.

"This would free up health insurance companies to raise their premiums as high as possible with nobody standing in their way. That would allow premiums to rise unchecked."

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