Over 122,000 Australians have taken out private hospital cover in the last six months following the introduction of the means testing of the private health insurance rebate, according to Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek.

“More than 10.7 million Australians have hospital cover, the highest number in 37 years,” Ms Plibersek said. 

Figures released today by the Private Health Insurance Administration Council found that 39,363 people took out private hospital insurance in the December 2012 quarter. This follows an increase of 83,128 people in the September quarter. 

“An additional 1.3 million people have added hospital cover under this Government, and the percentage of Australians with hospital cover is the highest in 24 years,” Ms Plibersek said.
“Means testing the private health insurance rebate means that low and middle income Australians no longer subsidise the health insurance of higher income Australians. Nearly eight million private health insurance policy holders haven’t been affected by the changes.”