Young Australians continuing to abandon their private health insurance

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More than 9,000 Australians ditched their private health insurance in the last quarter of 2019, which consumer advocates say is young people voting with their feet and abandoning the system.

Young Australians are continuing to abandon their private health insurance cover in droves, as consumer advocates argue they're"voting with their feet" and health economists reignite calls for a review of the system.Out-of-pocket costs for hospital visits rose 3.

Its report also showed out-of-pocket expenses for hospital visits increased by 3.2 per cent over the year, with people paying an average gap payment of $300 in the last quarter. "Young people are voting with their feet and telling health insurers what they're offering is poor value." "This has been an issue we've raised consistently with the Federal Government, even as the amount of surgery has remained relatively consistent year on year, the amount of medical devices that have been claimed has risen massively out of proportion.

 

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Time to re-introduce the 'means test' for hospital admissions. Problem solved overnight. Stupid incompetent government at work.

Health insurance is a ponzi scheme.

For me and my wife its $8k with 0 rebate due to income tax bracket. Obviously 45% tax isn't enough

Good. We should have a good public health system. Only reason we don't is because of greed.

Because it's a Scam

instead of for all aussies, could there perhaps be free healthcare for all aussies?

Because there is no value

Who can blame them. Saving money is difficult enough these days. Many individuals and families are cash stressed and premiums keep on keeping on rising beyond reach.

A point to consider I guess, medical advancement and technology is staggering & ongoing research & development costs a lot. We all want to live longer healthier lives. I cannot see how Government can fund everything. Health insurance is ill conceived in Australia.

Their choice........Health cover or weekend recreational drugs.

It’s time to overhaul private health

Not just younguns. We're in the process of setting up our own.

Lower birth rates and people living longer means rising costs for insurers. Costs become prohibitive for average Aussies. Younger people with less disposable income start opting out and the problem gets worse.

Waiting for the day healthcare gets tied to employment like the US

MLS is 1.5% of my income. Decent hospital + extras for just me is almost $2k above the MLS I pay ... the math doesn't add up.

I had to leave mine, it just got more and more expensive, had no choice.

priv health insurance is ripoff They want more tax subsidy when they r making $100s mils profit The idea is for investment to pay for cost not preying on younger gen

If you took out health insurance and you developed a stutter, would this be covered? stutter health insurance young australian private

Only reason we don't have free healthcare is because the wealthy and big business refuse to pay their taxes. We are a wealthy nation,there are no excuses not to have free universal healthcare.

I only got it when I was younger to get my shoulder surgery. No other use.

I pay outright. Mainly dental. Don't usually need hospital trip unless I'm nearly dead. Unless you have ongoing health issues ... not worth it.

Is coronavirus covered by phi? (asking for a fwiend .. (cough-cough)).

Because its not worth it?

Probably because few can afford it. My income has increased in the last 5 years but not as much as the cost of living or the cost of private health. Frankly the cost makes me wonder where my tax dollars go!

Medicare was NEVER Ment to have a Private Option

If you don't have cover to fund private businesses, you pay more tax. That's extortion.

People have realised the public system isn’t that bad, and the main drawback there is waiting times for non-urgent issues. Rather keep the $ and take wait times. Higher house prices = less disposable income. AvidCommentator

Pity we can't all abandon NBN. A few more years of LNP in power & we'll be asking Albania for asylum

The punitive age-based loading, designed to keep people in the system, actually keeps them out for good once they've left. Any slim chance of saving this system (if it's worth saving) must include an amnesty and repeal of this poorly conceived feature... auspol healthcare

We are 36/38. Working professionals w/ decent combined income, puts us in the bracket to 'must have' private health or get high tax. Last tax return, it worked out cheaper to pay the higher tax than have private health. Considering dropping private health or at least lower cover

from personal experience all insurance in australia is nothing more than a scam

It's way too expensive who can afford it

Biggest fraud ever; no one likes a rip-off.

So are older Australians, it's now prohibitively expensive & seems to increase on 1 April every year. I can no longer afford the almost $6k per annum from my meagre savings that I'm trying to live on in retirement.

probs cause waste of money scam.

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