PREMIUM HIKE DEMANDS BY INSURERS IGNORED BY GOVERNMENT - WIN FOR ADA

The Australian Dental Association (ADA) advocated that recent premium hike demands of some private health insurers were driven by profits rather than providing comprehensive care to patients.

The aforementioned correlated with recent advice from the Australian Prudential Authority (APRA) which insisted that medical devices were not a justifiable reason to increase premiums. Health Minister Greg Hunt had been pressured by the ADA to rethink health insurer’s demands.

“These APRA results show that costs are reducing for health insurers in many areas of their business,” said Dr Carmelo Bonanno, President of the ADA. “The ADA calls on Greg Hunt to insist insurers keep premium increases to a minimum next April..."

Subsequently on Saturday 7 December 2019 Health Minister Greg Hunt said he had approved a 2.92 per cent increase in prices from April, which will be the lowest average premium increase in 19 years and introduced reforms to the cost of medical devices.

A welcome change.

Dr T. S. Saw OAM

Wheelers Hill Dental