Health fund guide reveals disturbing double standard
AMA President, Dr Kerryn Phelps, said today that a report in The Australian newspaper reveals a disturbing double standard adopted by the health fund industry in regard to product quality and price.
Dr Phelps said the newspaper discloses details of a planned consumer guide to buying healthcover and reports claims that the health insurance industry wanted to delete information on the level of cover and the price range of the various private health cover products.
"What good is a consumer guide to a complex product when it doesn't tell you what you will get for your money and how much you will have to pay for it," Dr Phelps said.
"Buying private health insurance is a major decision for families and individuals and people have a right to know exactly what they are getting for their money.
"People want security from their health cover, not confusion."
Dr Phelps said the health funds had recently been trying to blame doctors for increases in the cost of patient 'gaps' for specialist health services, and had even resorted to putting preferred supplier lists of specialists - based on price, not quality or skills - on their websites.
"One week the funds are calling for doctors to be up-front about fees, and the next they are running for cover when it comes to revealing the cost of their own products and services.
"This is an appalling double standard that sends a negative message to consumers.
"For the good of the Australian health system, it is time that the health funds provided consumers with simple and comprehensive easy-to-read information about affordable and accessible health insurance products.
"At the moment, there is a disturbing gap in the information being supplied by the health funds - exactly what you get and exactly how much it will cost.
"The guide - What You Should Know Before Purchasing Private Health Insurance - is a positive initiative that should be supported by the whole of the health industry and the medical profession, but it needs all the information in an easy to understand format.
"This guide has been two years in the making. Consumers should have the full story now," Dr Phelps said.
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Sarah Bucknell (02) 6270 5472 / (0419) 440 076