NSW: Private health care set to boom

AAP General News (Australia)
12-26-2006
NSW: Private health care set to boom

SYDNEY, Dec 26 AAP - Private health care is set to boom following expectations of the
lowest premium rise in six years.

The likely four per cent increase, which equates to $1.50 per week extra on a typical
annual family rebated premium of $1750, will come into effect in April, Fairfax reported.

Health Minister Tony Abbott is putting pressure on healthcare funds, which generated
nearly $1 billion in profits this year, to keep premiums down in the lead-up to the federal
election.

Increases being sought by individual funds are expected to be between 3.5 and six per
cent with the average between four and five per cent.

Membership is expected to grow as health cover broadens in April to include treatments
at home, metal health programs, post-operative care and widens payments for "wellness"

programs for patients with cardiac and other conditions.

AAP sk/it

KEYWORD: PRIVATE

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