Health Minister Greg Hunt has written to private health insurers to tell them their proposed premium rises for 2020 are too high, a media report says.
It’s believed the industry is asking for a rise of 3.5 per cent, up from the 3.25 per cent they were allowed for 2019.
“I have written to private health insurers, asking them to deliver lower premium changes for consumers,” Mr Hunt told The Sunday Telegraph.
“Their proposed changes for premiums in their first applications were too high. Our reforms have delivered the lowest premium changes in 17 and 18 years consecutively. I am determined to deliver the lowest average premium changes in 19 years.”
However, private health insurers have warned that claims are growing faster than revenue and they may be forced to cut costs, including provision for some medical devices and payments to doctors.
Australian Associated Press