Publication: Courier Mail
Section: Breaking News
Date: 25 February 2011
Matthew Schulz
Article excerpt:
HEALTH Minister Nicola Roxon has approved a hike in health insurance of 5.57 per cent from April, following a similar rise last year. The price hike will affect 10 million Australians, on top of rising interest rates, energy costs and food price rises. The increase will see families slugged an average extra $166.92 per year for the privilege of health insurance or $3.21-a-week... Some insurance companies will potentially charge more, with details of the approved increases expected to be released soon. Health Minister Nicola Roxon today approved the increases for 34 of 35 private health funds.
Article summary:
Ms Roxon says the health insurance premium increases would have been higher without her intervention, and that the rise was less than under Tony Abbott's time as health minister. “During the premium process I asked 17 of the 35 health funds to resubmit their applications, which helped reduce the premium increase for 7.9 million Australians,'' Ms Roxon said.
