RBA goes easy, but Health Insurance shoots up again

Not happy at all with health insurance going up. Yes we pay $500 if we go into hospital but for same day procedure we don't pay anything. That is with "Westfund Health" (Gold 500). Our new premium went up to $273.10 from $237.40. Hope this can help someone out there. 

I have an excess of $250 with my Medibank Private. With this increase, I too, will now have to increase my excess to $500 - then, when I go to a Private Hospital for a day procedure, I will be paying the same out of pocket that my sister (who has never been in Private Health) just paid - yes she paid $500 out of pocket for the same hospital, same procedure, same Dr! 

I am now in my 70's and have been covered by Private Health Insurance since Birth. A few years ago we moved from Bupa to a Members owned Health Fund (People Care) and have found that, especially when it comes to requiring surgery, we have saved thousands of out of pocket dollars because of their agreement with a large number of Specialist Doctors, not to mention the saving when having to pay the excess for day surgery which, instead of being the annual amount, is only half of our annual excess. As aged pensioners we are finding it harder and harder to find the money to pay for Private Health Insurance, however, we would prefer having a choice of Doctor (especially Surgeon) when and if required. Perhaps the Federal Government should take into some consideration the Pension payment for those of us who choose to continue to pay for Private Health Insurance rather than impose the cost of Hospital care on the Public Hospital System. Jan from Qld 

Colin from NSW Medibank Private raised our premiums by 13.33%. Medibank refuses to explain this increase. It seems they are slugging the over 50's because we are coming of age where we are likely to use more services, hospital and extras. They conveniently forget that for 40 years we had paid and not had very many claims. Seems like gouging to me. 

We are with Medibank, does anyone know how much that will be going up as we haven't as yet received notice to say it will be increasing? 

It seems every year the premiums increase and the benefits decrease. We've been continuos members with Bupa for almost forty years and when I asked for a discount for couples, I was told that wasn't possible. We pay $400 a month, we won't claim nearly as much as a family with children. Why can't our premium be lower? 

Have been in private health for 50 years. Have top hospital and extras cover, always out of pocket for extras, especially dentist. Yes, agree that there is nothing offered to long term members only new members. Would like to shop around for better deal but put off due to wait period and possibility of everything being classed as 'pre existing' due to age, 67, when wanting to make a claim. 

My wife and I in our early 70s pay 267 and will go to 304 per cal month that is private hosp cover with extras with A.H.M 

My husband and I have been in private cover for 30+ years. The continual rise is starting to get too much though and there is no discount at all for loyalty to the provider. They have deals for the people to join but nothing given to the long term members. Looking very seriously at not taking cover out now as they premiums are just too much. What is it with the insures as well that they do deals with certain dentists doctors etc, and you get more back for going to these ''chosen'' ones. If we pay for private cover we need to be able to get the same back from them all. Since when do we have to pay an access. what is the use of private cover as we are now forced to pay this to get a lower premium. It is time people started to stand up to these little extra charges that look like we are getting something cheaper, but are we really. 

Ours increased by 12.8% which is WAY above the inflation rate.