Media releases

The allegations made by the ACCC against Medibank Private highlight the urgent need for reforms to make health insurance simpler, transparent and more certain for consumers. “These allegations follow widespread reports and complaints about the failure of Australia’s biggest health fund to alert...

Both side of politics have at the weekend issued policies promising a better health deal, underlining the need for improvements in public hospital financing and private health insurance, the Consumers Health Forum says. “We welcome the commitments by the Coalition and Labor. While they reflect...

Australia needs a 21st century health system which makes the most of the huge potential we have to advance care for all Australians. “Health is a top issue in this federal election because most Australians are concerned about the future health care of themselves and their children,” the CEO of...

Health consumers can expect temporary relief from the prospect of out of pocket costs for diagnostic imaging services such as mammograms and ultrasounds as a result of an agreement announced by the Health Minister, Sussan Ley. “This is a welcome step, along with the promise of an independent...

The Consumers Health Forum welcomes the Greens plan announced today to reinvigorate Australia’s ailing provision for the care of the chronically ill. “This is an ambitious but achievable plan that would benefit millions of Australians living with chronic and complex conditions who currently cannot...

The Consumers Health Forum welcomes Labor’s pledge not to proceed with a planned rise of up to $5 in the charge for prescribed medicines. “Australians face heavy co-payments for health care as it is and increases of between 80c and $5 extra depending on concession status would hit those with...

The Consumers Health Forum calls on the Federal Government and the Opposition to lift the freeze on Medicare payments, to undertake a wide-ranging review of health costs and give new Health Care Home models of care the maximum chance of success. The Federal Government’s deal with pathologists at...

Crunch time for thousands of young people comes the day before polling day. That’s the annual deadline to sign up for health insurance and it comes as private cover is beset by frustration and confusion, the Consumers Health Forum says. Australians who have turned or are about to turn 31 must take...

The Consumers Health Forum supports Labor’s call to make the election a referendum on Medicare as long as it means asking voters if they want universal access to quality health care preserved. If the future of Medicare is to be protected, a central objective should be to ensure the development of...

Consumers face a range of increased out of pocket costs for frontline doctor care and medicines if measures in this and previous budgets pass a future Senate, the Consumers Health Forum says. Tonight’s Budget will extract another $925 million by freezing Medicare rebates over the next three years,...