Your health insurance just got more expensive   

1 April 2018
Sydney Morning Herald
   

The cost of private health insurance is rising again, but a trip to the chemist will be cheaper for patients with high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, cancer, arthritis or asthma.

Insurance premiums are rising by close to four per cent from Sunday, which will result in Australians paying $200 a year more for their cover.   

Health Minister Greg Hunt insists the 3.95 per cent premium rise is the lowest government-approved hike since 2001.

But federal Labor has seized on the hike as proof its rate cap and Productivity Commission review of the sector is necessary.


Labor's Catherine King says the private heath insurance premium price rise is disappointing.


"Today's private health insurance increase sees Australians paying $1 billion more for the same private health insurance product," shadow health minister Catherine King told reporters.


"That's $1 billion coming out of the pockets of Australians and going into the pockets of private health insurers."

But the new medicines now listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme has garnered support.


"Australians with conditions including high blood pressure, depression, digestive disorders and certain types of cancer will now pay less for their medicines, every time they visit the pharmacy," Mr Hunt said.

No sympathy.... but there should be no subsidy, either, since they do not relieve pressure on the public health system, which they mostly still use, but they get to jump the queues and feel 'important'.  The health needs of the poorer and less healthy are shoved down the track incessantly to satisfy these whiners... and because the doctors often feel the need for a little more in their pockets for doing their work.  They all need a good hard foot up the clacker, and maybe a system like the UK could be considered where doctors are all on salary and everyone is treated on priority and level of their health issue rather on the health of their wallet.

https://theconversation.com/the-multi-billion-dollar-subsidy-for-private-health-...

Just a part of government spending that could be chopped to fund the righteous demands of decent pensions and unemployment benefits.  There are countless areas of government expenditure that can be chopped away at long before the bills falling due for bad management and theft of retirement funding into consolidated revenue need to be even considered.  Like plenty of these overpaid 'commissions' and such that are just nice little earners for old mates etc... and then there are the other areas of government expenditure that are costing heaps and incurring future generation debt.

Just putting this into perspective.