Health Insurance Claims Top $2 Mi...(ce private health insurance is not just...),Health

"Traditionally the high end surgeries would be borne by the public system. Now we are seeing people electing to use their private health insurance for these types of procedures, and enjoying the clear benefits it brings. These include choice of doctor, choice of hospital, and greater control over how soon the surgery can occur.

"This trend has been reflected in Medibank Private's hospital admission figures for 2007/08, which grew by 8 per cent over the previous year. In total we funded 810,000 hospital admissions, and as the Chart Toppers list shows, some of these are very expensive.

"Clearly the only way for most Australians to afford these type of medical procedures in a private hospital is with private health insurance", Mr Bosworth observed.

During 2006/07 Medibank Private spent $2.13 billion in benefit payments for hospital treatment. Overall the fund paid out $2.9 billion in hospital and ancillary benefits, an increase of 8.7 per cent on the previous year.

About Medibank Private:
Medibank Private is the largest Australian-owned provider of private health insurance covering more than three million people. Medibank Private offers health insurance to all Australians through retail and corporate products, as well as catering for overseas students and visitors.

Medibank Private has a 'Members Choice' network of contracted health providers consisting of over 449 private hospitals and day surgeries and 4,038 ancillary providers nationally. It has approximately 1,500 staff and 105 retail centres nationally, a national call cent
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