Labor is inviting consumers, experts and the private health sector to have their say on how to improve the value, affordability and quality of private health insurance.

A Shorten Labor Government will order a root-and-branch Productivity Commission review of the private health system – and we want your help to shape that inquiry.
 
If we win the next election we will impose a 2 per cent cap on private health insurance price rises for two years, saving an average family $340 and giving them certainty over their household budget rather than rewarding the big insurers with ever growing profits.
 
The cap will deliver immediate relief to families struggling with relentless price rises. But it’s important we also develop long-term reforms to ensure the private health sector has a sustainable future.
 
That is what the Productivity Commission inquiry – the first major review of the sector in 20 years – is all about.
 
Labor is today releasing an issues paper and inviting submissions to inform the terms of reference and structure of the inquiry.
 
The issues paper includes key questions around product design, out-of-pocket costs, competitiveness, transparency and the premium setting process.
 
We intend to publish draft terms of reference for the inquiry before the next election, informed by the submissions to this paper. This process will help ensure the inquiry is conducted quickly if we win the next election.
 
The issues paper builds on the work begun with Labor’s national online survey – available at www.peoplenotprofits.org.au – that has enabled thousands of Australians to share their experiences and ideas about private health insurance.
 
Private health insurance costs are out of control, with the average policy increasing by more than $1,000 a year under the Liberals. This is an affordability crisis that Scott Morrison is about to make worse with another above-inflation increase in 2019 – bringing the total increase under the Liberals to 30 per cent.
 
It’s time Australians get a fair go when it comes to private health insurance – only Labor has a plan to put people over profits and make health insurance more affordable for every Australian.

The issues paper can be accessed here.
 
Submissions are invited from all interested individuals and organisations and should be made to [email protected].
 
WEDNESDAY, 12 DECEMBER 2018