Warning on gaps in health insurance coverage
Patients are being hit with large, unexpected bills because of private health insurance policies which exclude coverage for common medical treatments, the head of the organisation which represents private hospitals has told the Canberra Times.
Australian Private Hospitals Association chief executive, Michael Roff, is concerned by a huge increase in the number of private health fund members covered by ”exclusionary” products could undermine the value of insurance.
Mr Roff said the proportion of health fund members covered by exclusionary policies rose from 12% to 20% in the June quarter last year.
The policies varied, but typically did not cover commonly required treatments such as knee and cardiac surgery and obstetrics care.
Mr Roff said many health fund members were unaware of the limited nature of their insurance coverage and in a small number of cases this had led to people being charged tens of thousands of dollars for medical treatment.
