Publication: ABC News
Date: 25 February 2011
Private health insurance premiums are set to rise from April, after the Government approved increases to almost all Australian health funds.
Premiums will rise on average 5.7 per cent for all but one of the Australian insurers.
Health Minister Nicola Roxon has defended the increase, saying it is lower than last year's increase.
Ms Roxon says the higher premium is also lower than other increases in health costs, and benefits paid out to members have risen by about 10 per cent over the past year.
The Health Minister says work by the Government ensured the increases were lower than they otherwise would have been.
"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," she said.
"One health fund, Australian Unity, has declined my request to reduce their premiums.
"I am not satisfied that Australian Unity has done all they can to ensure their customers get a reasonable deal, so I'll be asking them to go back and reconsider their position."
