Number of Australians with basic hospital cover falls to lowest level in over a decade
Key points:
- The number of Australians with basic cover is an entire percentage point lower than the same time last year, and the lowest since 2007
- The decrease comes as health insurance premiums rose almost 2.8 per cent over the June quarter
- Meanwhile, the report also found out-of-pocket costs vary greatly depending on location
The percentage of Australians with basic hospital cover has dropped to its lowest level in more than a decade, as almost 30,000 people dumped their policies in just three months.
The latest Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) data shows health premiums are still rising faster than wages, and out-of-pocket costs are continuing to bite, just one month after a report stated Australia’s health care system had become increasingly unfair, costly and confusing.
The proportion of the population with basic hospital cover dropped to 44.2 per cent — its lowest level since 2007.
That is an entire percentage point cent lower than the same time last year, and the equivalent of 28,000 people dumping their cover since March.
From abc.net.au
