A suite of private health insurance reforms will help Australia maintain a strong and competitive private sector and protect the health system, Health Minister Greg Hunt says.
The government introduced a series of reforms to parliament on Wednesday that includes allowing discounts for hospital coverage for people under 30, increasing the strength of the health insurance ombudsman and letting private health insurers cover travel and accommodation costs for rural and regional Australians attending health services.
"These reforms will therefore help strengthen the viability of the private health system by addressing concerns about affordability, complexity and lack of transparency of private health insurance," Mr Hunt said.
The legislation would also allow private health insurance providers to increase customer excesses in exchange for lowering premiums for the first time since 2001.
The increased excess would be $750 for singles or $1500 for couples and families.
"Importantly customers can choose, and I emphasise choose, a higher excess in return for lower premium costs," he said.
