Fed: Doctors to be forced to tell patients gap payments

AAP General News (Australia)
04-15-2006
Fed: Doctors to be forced to tell patients gap payments

SYDNEY, April 16 AAP - Hospital patients are to be informed up front of just how much
they will have to pay in doctors fees under a federal government private health insurance
overhaul.

Under the changes, doctors will be forced to tell a patient in advance what their gap
payment - the difference between what is paid for by their health refund and what the
doctor charges - will be.

An average gap payment is $720 with more than 20 per cent of patients unaware they
have to make this payment.

The Sunday Telegraph today reports this will enable patients to "shop around" and find
the doctor with the lowest price, leading to competition within the medical industry.

The change is part of the reforms to be unveiled by federal Health Minister Tony Abbott
in coming weeks.

The reforms are also set to abolish the two per cent lifetime surcharge on health insurance
premiums that was brought in to get young people into private health cover.

Under that system, anyone who takes up private health insurance is forced to pay an
extra two per cent charge for every year after the age of 30 that they delayed in joining
a health fun.

The Telegraph reports the government changes will also increase the type of out-of-hospital
procedures, including tests for heart disease conditions and diabetes, that patients can
claim for.

AAP nr/cjh

KEYWORD: GAP

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