Fed: Private health cover falls to three-year low
Private health insurance has fallen to its lowest level since the federal governmentintroduced ins financial carrot and stick approach for the over-30s.
The Lifetime Health Cover policy encourages young people to take out insurance by increasingpremiums for people who delay joining a fund until after they turn 30.
Official figures show just 43.4 per cent of the population is covered by private hospitalinsurance after almost 60,000 people quit health funds in the June quarter.
The fall coincides with a 7.4 per cent hike in private health premiums, which rosean average of $145 a year per family in April.
The last time membership was so low was in June 2000.
The Private Health Insurance Administration Council says the biggest drop in coveris for people aged 20 to 24, which fell five per cent.
Labor health spokeswoman JULIA GILLARD says the continuing decline shows the government'shealth policy is full of holes.
AAP RTV kmh/wz/gjr/dl/rt
KEYWORD: HEALTH (CANBERRA)
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