ACT Residents will be hit by a $180 Health Insurance Bill

Value of Private Health Insurance

KEY MESSAGES

Private health plays a huge role in our health system.

  • 13.5 million Australians rely on private health.
  • Private health insurance pays for nearly two-thirds of planned surgery, 70% of same day admissions for mental health treatment and $2.7 billion in dental services.
  • With PHI you can avoid long public hospital waiting lists, have choice of medical specialist and the timing of your procedure.
  • Private health patients’ median waiting time for elective surgery is 21 days, compared to 42 days for public patients. [Reference: AIHW 2018]
  • The private system helps to ensure the public system is available for those who need it most.
  • 86c in every dollar of premium spend is returned to the customer in benefits.

TWEETS

  • Did you know that 13.5 million Australians rely on private health cover? #aushealth #privatehealthpublicbenefit
  • Why 13.5 million Australians have private health cover. [INSERT GIF 3: Why have PHI]
  • Australian’s have access to a world class private health system – relied on by 13.5 million Australians #aushealth [INSERT PIC: Image: Value of PHI 1]
  • Two out of three elective surgeries in Australia are performed under private health cover #aushealth #betteraccess [INSERT PIC: Image: Value of PHI 1]
  • Australian health funds cover more than 41.5 million dental services annually – that’s $2.7B in value #healthysmiles #aushealth [INSERT PIC: Image: Value of PHI 2 OR INSERT GIF 1: Dental Cover]
  • Thinking about taking out #privatehealthcover? Private health patients’ average waiting time for elective surgery is 21 days, compared to 42 days for public patients [INSERT PIC: Image: LCP 1]
  • 86c in every dollar of premium spend is returned to the customer in benefits. #PrivateHealth [INSERT PIC: Image: Value of PHI 6]
  • Health funds are paying more for healthcare services but continue to consistently pay 86 cents in the premium dollar back to members to fund their healthcare. [INSERT PIC: Image: Value of PHI 6]

FACEBOOK POSTS

  • There’s a range of benefits available to individuals, couples and families who take out private health cover – such as reduced hospital waiting times, greater choice of their healthcare provider and the timing of their procedure. [INSERT GIF 2: Waiting Times]
  • If you are thinking about taking out private health cover for yourself or your family, it might be important to know that private health patients’ average waiting time for elective surgery is 21 days, compared to 42 days for public patients. [INSERT GIF 2: Waiting Times]
  • Health fact: there are more than 41.5 million dental services performed annually, valued at approximately $2.7 billion, benefitting the millions of Australians who have taken out private health cover. That’s a lot of happy, healthy smiles. [INSERT PIC: Image: Value of PHI 2]
  • Did you know that private health insurance pays for nearly two-thirds of planned surgery, 70% of same day admissions for mental health treatment and $2.7 billion in dental services? [INSERT PIC: Image: Value of PHI 1]

EXAMPLE MEDIA RELEASE

TITLE

The Labor Party’s policy for private health insurance will increase premiums and drive consumers away. [NAME] from [HEALTH FUND] warned today.

“The fact is, Australia’s private health system is world class. Over 13.5 million Australians rely on it for security and peace of mind. [NAME] said.

Across the country, private health insurance pays for two-thirds of planned surgeries, 70 per cent of same day mental health admissions and $2.7 billion in dental services. According to the latest AIHW data, private health patients’ median waiting time for elective surgery is 21 days, compared to 42 days for public patients.

Patients with private health insurance have reduced hospital waiting times, can choose their healthcare provider and the timing of their procedure – giving them choice and control of their own health care.

Unlike other general and life insurance, private health insurance is based on the principle of ‘community rating’, which means consumers pay the same premium for the same policy regardless of their current or potential health status. In fact, it is illegal for health funds to exclude a member, or alter their premium based on their health status or potential health status.

“[HEALTH FUND] is committed to improving the private healthcare system. Last year saw the passing of the Private Health Insurance Legislation Amendment Bill 2018, where we worked with the government and private health stakeholders to go through health fund products line by line, ensuring we are keeping the balance of affordability and value for money for consumers choosing private health,” [NAME] said.

“The new laws introduce the Gold, Silver, Bronze, Basic classification system, which will eliminate features of the system that consumers have found confusing, improve transparency and make it simpler for consumers to choose and use their private health insurance.”

“Other reforms, such as reducing inflated medical device benefits to be more consistent with real market value, have already had a positive impact on premiums and delivered benefits to consumers.”

“The private system ensures the public system is available for those who need it most,” [NAME] said.

To find out more about the value of private health insurance, please visit www.[website.org].au.

ENDS

EXAMPLE LETTER TO MEMBER

Dear [NAME],

Recent media reports have raised some questions about the value and effectiveness of private health insurance to both individual members and the Australian health system.

[HEALTH FUND] wants to make sure you have all the facts about the value of your private health cover both to you personally and to Australia’s health system more generally.

The fact is, Australia’s private health system is world class. Over 13.5 million Australians rely on it for security and peace of mind.

Across the country, private health insurance pays for two-thirds of planned surgeries, 70 per cent of same day mental health admissions and $2.7 billion in dental services.

Patients with private health insurance have reduced hospital waiting times, can choose their healthcare provider and the timing of their procedure.

Private health patients’ median waiting time for elective surgery is 21 days, compared to 42 days for public patients. [Source: AIHW 2018]

Importantly, the private system ensures the public system is available for those who need it most.

So, thank you for supporting private health insurance. It’s not only a great investment in your own health, it’s an investment in the entire Australian health system.

To find out more about the value of private health insurance, please visit www.[website.org].au.

Your sincerely

[NAME]

PHI Message Kits Intro

Causes of Healthcare Costs

Community Rating

Value of Private Health Insurance

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