Consultation on the Private Health Insurance (PHI) Actuarial Study into Risk Equalisation

Overview

The Department is conducting studies into key PHI regulatory and policy settings (Lifetime Health Cover, Risk Equalisation Medicare Levy Surcharge, PHI Rebate and Private Hospital Default Benefit Arrangements). The aim of these studies is to identify opportunities to improve the affordability and quality of PHI cover for consumers to access private health services and to optimise the contribution private health makes to the health system.

Finity Consulting (Finity), an actuarial organisation with PHI expertise, has completed its review of current risk equalisation arrangements (see the 2020-21 Budget factsheet under the ’Related’ heading below). It is expected the remaining studies will be completed by December 2022.

The Consultation Paper has been prepared by the Department of Health and Aged Care (the Department) in response to Finity’s findings and recommendations and contains specific questions.

Why your views matter

The purpose of this consultation is to seek stakeholder and community feedback on the report’s findings and broad direction.

The diverse perspectives, experiences and knowledge of all stakeholders and interested members of the community are valued and respected and will contribute to the study.

How to respond

Finity’s Risk Equalisation report (under 'Related') and the Department’s Consultation Paper (under 'Give us your views') can be found below. 

Please submit your response via email to PHIconsultation@health.gov.au by 3pm Monday 5 December 2022.

When responding, please indicate whether you are contributing to the consultation process as a private health insurer, private hospital, representative body, business representative, member of the public, or in any other capacity. Please note the Department intends to publish responses to the Consultation paper. Respondents should clearly identify any sensitive material that is not to be published.