2009 news articles in the media about issues affecting the health insurance industry, the activities of Australian health funds and how Government regulations could affect your health insurance.
Labor reintroduces health insurance reform to means-test the rebate
Govt pushes ahead to means-test the private health insurance rebate
Health reform costs balloon on the eve of reform talk
Senate rejects means test for health insurance rebate
Senate rejects private health changes
Swan hints at further cuts to the private health insurance rebate
Health insurance budges changes scheduled to go to vote this week
Mind the gap on private health insurance - a review of government changes
100,000 to flee private health insurance: report
Four times more people tipped to drop health insurance: report
The Federal Health Department and Health Minister are at odds on rebate claims
Sector predicts subsidy cuts to spark private health exodus
70,000 expected to 'drop' private health cover in SA
Pain for insurers but it won't kill them - decline should be slower than expected
Coalition's private health calculations up in smoke
We have doubts about means-test too, say Greens
Health fund members expected to drop extras as a result of rebate changes
Senate may resist health insurance rebate rejig: Fielding
Health insurance dropout rate as a result of rebate changes 'negligible', says Government
Roxon prescribes a bit off the top to pay for needy - taking a scalpel to high-end health care
Australian Government tightens health budget with a string of changes
Health care shake-up gives more power to nurses and midwives in Federal Budget
Nervous wait for all to be revealed in the Budget
PM's health rebate promise - AHIA says the Government is breaking an election promise
Experts are divided on impact of rebate means test
Rudd Government will end the private health insurance rebate
A private briefing shows the Treasury may scrap the health insurance rebate
Bonanza for private health funds as Australians flock to health insurance
More people enrol in private health funds defying the economic downturn
Private health insurance reaches seven-year high
No exodus from private health despite changes to the Medicare levy surcharge
Private health insurance fees tipped for $200 rise
Higher health premiums on the way: Medibank Private
AHIA sympathetic to health premiums rise
Private health insurance premiums to rise 6 per cent
Roxon dismisses revelations that public hospitals are luring private health patients
Hospitals chase private cash as patients urged to use private health insurance
Health funds attacked for paying out hundreds of thousands on homeopathy claims
Costs to blame for holding up e-health to revolutionise the health system
Medicare Select to compete for health and allied services
Coalition to modify, not block, Medicare safety net cuts
Coalition boycott stalls health inquiry for means-testing health insurance rebate
Medicare struggling; Australia headed towards US user-pays system
Govt slams coalition's suggestion to limit private health funds using public hospitals
Medibank Private seeks chronic diseases revamp in the health system
Private hospitals operator Healthscope posts 145% profit rise
HCF feeling good after rise in health insurance membership and revenue
NIB seeking acquisitions for further consolidation in health insurance industry
Medibank Private blames unemployment for slow growth in membership
Medibank converts to for-profit model
Medibank Private converts to 'for-profit'
Medibank Private senior executives earn big pay rises despite profit decline
Australian Unity launches China fund for Australian investors
BUPA consider selling businesses acquired through its MBF purchase last year
Some HBF members facing fee hikes
Cutting health rebate will put more pressure on the public system, says HBF
Private health funds in late push to save rebate
HCF health fund lifts health insurance membership by 20%
Medibank Private membership slows due to rising jobless
Medibank Private books $93.8m profit
Medibank Private books profit as private health slows
NIB consider returning some of its idle capital
NIB shares soar despite earnings dip
NIB Holdings bears up well under difficult conditions
NIB stands by profit guidance despite growth in members
Medibank stays healthy amid downturn
NIB pairs up with NAB to offer discounted private health insurance
NIB in alliance with bank to boost membership
Labor lays ground for sale of Medibank
Medibank to become for-profit and forfeit $120 million to Government
Medibank will remain in public hands but become for-profit
Recession puts health fund in limbo
Medibank Private workers go part-time in restructure
Medibank Private to shift 140 staff to part time
Medibank Private sends staff part time but says no job cuts
Medibank Private merges with HSA
Roxon woos private health providers before the vote on health insurance rebate
PM commits to cut elective surgery waiting lists
Insurance scheme may allow lifetime care for disabled
Nicola Roxon urges the Opposition for a more serious health debate
Private hospitals call for health policy rethink
Private hospitals urge government to scrap health insurance cuts
Little support for health insurance rebate recall
Senate to rule out Government plan to recall Parliament over private health reforms
Roxon prepared to fight for health insurance rebate reform
Health Minister says private health insurance vote 'in December'
Early election threat over proposed health insurance rebate changes
Parliament recall over Christmas could mean early election
Health issue may become election trigger if defeated again on December 10
Healthcare rebate issue 'won't be used to trigger election' says Federal Government
Labour vows to pass health reforms, raising speculation of an early election
Senate votes down health cuts by rejecting means-test rebates for private health cover
Early election on the table if health insurance reforms are not passed, Rudd hints
Coalition remind PM of private health insurance pledge
Senate rejects health rebate bill
No agreement likely on health insurance rebate
Roxon denies private health exodus from means-testing private health insurance rebates
Govt 'conned public' on health rebate, says Opposition spokesman Tony Abbott
Health rebate bill clears Lower House
Roxon faces questions on health rebate
Nicola Roxon confident of senate backing means-testing of private health rebate
APHA wants the Govt to release the means-test modelling
Health rebate cut 'will hurt 2 million', says Opposition
Opposition vows to block health rebate test
Turnbull sets up health showdown over health insurance rebates
Coalition to oppose plans to slash health rebates
Turnbull's budget reply speech empty rhetoric with no solutions, says Tanner
Federal Budget 2009 - what's in it for you - changes in health insurance
Budget to support public and private health, says Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon
Private health insurance rebate facing the axe
Budget to slash health insurance rebates
Rudd 'breaking promise' on health rebate, says Opposition
Government denies 'razor gang' reports about slashing private health rebate
Treasury has health rebate in its sights, considering a means test
Razor gang targets private health insurance rebate
Health Minister Roxon OKs 6pc health premium hike
Nicola Roxon says health insurance premiums to rise 6pc
Private health premiums to rise as health funds are given approval
Health fees up, rates to fall again
Roxon unveils Medicare rebate changes for GPs
Patience wears thin on reforms for the struggling public health system
Cataract surgery Medicare rebate cuts disallowed by the Senate
Senate overturns cuts to Medicare rebate for cataract surgery
Roxon won't give in on reduction to Medicare rebate for cataract surgery
Medicare Select won't work, claims ecconomist
Arthritis pain-relief injection Medicare rebates cut by the Government
Medicare rebate cuts for cataract surgery go through
Roxon eyes solution to cataract surgery Medicare rebate stand off
Coalition wants a national preventative health agency to be deferred
Coalition to oppose cuts to the Medicare cataract surgery rebate cuts
Coalition blocks Labor's cuts to the Medicare rebate for cataract surgery
Medicare won't see savings on cataract rebate slash, say surgeons
States, consumers pay less for health as national health spending rises
Financial blow for infertile women due to IVF budget cuts
Medicare under fire for failing to meet modern care needs
Medicare at risk of putting more into doctors pockets than into care of chronically ill
Medicare surcharge won't cause private health insurance exodus: expert
