Health Funds and Industry News

As Medicare faces an uncertain future and many people turn to private health insurance to cover any forthcoming gaps in cover, Australia's public and private health systems have come under the spotlight.

Medicare

Approximately one third of Australians are lacking some knowledge about the use of private health insurance and more than a quarter are completely unaware of the Medicare rebate, according to a recent survey commissioned by comparison organisation Comparethemarket.

When you're trying to decide which health insurance policy is best for your needs, it may help you to understand the insurance industry as a whole.

While the complex technical workings of insurance companies can be confusing for those of us on the outside, insurance is a simple concept to explain.

The term 'insurance' is used to explain products offered to consumers to mitigate risk and provide financial compensation in the event of adverse, unforeseen circumstances.

Government-owned health insurance provider Medibank Private has teamed up with the Independent Practitioner Network (IPN) to offer benefits to cover the expense of visiting a primary care provider or general practitioner (GP).

Currently being trialed in six areas around Queensland, the new program is about supporting access to GPs as primary care providers and reducing the pressure on public health systems across Australia.