RBA goes easy, but Health Insurance shoots up again

I'm in HCF Top Cover with extras with a $250 excess, my new premium has increased by $13.60 per month but I am on a Part Aged Pension & my pension will increase by $12.78 per calandar month! Thats a 6% difference in my Part Aged Pension so it seems I have to absorb this increase AND cost of food & utilities increases as well! Whoever said the Pension 'keeps pace with cost of living' is NOT an Aged Pension, they must be a Politician!!! Obviously as I am on a fixed income I will have to 'go-with-out' to be able to absorb these increases. Some will say 'but you have free hospital cover as a Pensioner...", I don't have time to waste sitting on a waiting list for one, two, three years for medical treatment! 

I'm in HBF Top Cover with a $250 excess. Just been informed that my premium from 1st April has risen by a little over $33.00 per month. Even though I am in a Corporate HBF fund, which provides me with a discount, I still pay more than $4,000 per year for this health insurance. As a 1-income household (my husband cannot work for health reasons - which incurs a lot of out of pocket medical expenses) I am finding this an enormous strain financially, which subsequently impacts on my stress levels and resultant health deterioration. I have to work another 10 years before I am entitled to receive the pension (67 years of age) - I am now focussing on having all existing medical issues / operations resolved soon as possible so that I can cancel my private health insurance as I cannot afford it. I certainly would not be able to afford it once I am on a pension! 

I will remain with my current provider HCF and pay up front prior to 1 April to avoid the price rise this years. I did the same with the previous price rise and will do the same with the next. Of course it will get me next year but not much can be done about it. But let us be crystal clear, the Government is not increasing private health insurance premiums, the private health funds are. This trend will continue while our health system is under pressure and Australians live in denial that our health system needs reform. The public would not even accept a very modest co-payment and so long as people can get free health care there will be abuse and overuse of the system. We who are independent, sensible and take responsibility for our own health care are left to take up the slack. 

Will be paying over $80 per week from April 1st with my Health Insurer, Teachers' Health with whom I have been insured for 47 years. I am still waiting for my loyalty reward! Did a search comparison through iSelect but could not find the same benefits anywhere else for less. We are just blessed in Australia that we have such wonderful Health Care. Greg 

Currant Nib member so no shopping voucher just a 10.3% increase 

Really upset with my new health insurer...NIB, was happy with the premium we got when we joined up, received an email yesterday to tell me the premium has risen by $43.25 a month that's a rise of over 12%. Not impressed, had to ring them and put our excess up to $500, that is double what it was and still the premium is higher from April 1st. These health insurance company's get away with too much 

We are with nib and looking at the premium due for next month for Top Hospital No Pregnancy with 60% Extras, we have an actual rise of 9.3% after allowing for the 4% FiftyUpClub Corporate discount which equates to paying a lot more than the average rise of 6.18%. Have started comparing funds and waiting eagerley for any better offers through 50up! 

We all know Aust. Health system is unaffordable in it's current form. Like most good social programs Medicare needs to be reviewed. Health Funds increase of 6.18% is nothing new historically. The cost of our excellent Health processes have risen greater than inflation/CPI for many years.