Are we doctors to blame for the fall in private health insurance uptake?

The economics of private health insurance is usually a pretty dry subject, but it is a topic that should engage all doctors irrespective of whether we work in the public hospital sector, private practice or primary healthcare.

The media hype about private health insurance membership is true.

The latest data confirms people are dropping out of it at a very high rate — nearly 30,000 (28,000) in the last quarter alone, leaving just 44% of the population insured for hospital treatment. It's the lowest level in 12 years.¹