The medical devices industry,which is at war with insurers over their push for a crackdown on sales tactics that drive up overall costs,heaped political pressure on Mr Hunt by commissioning polling to back its demand that he use his powers to force a lower premium rise.
Results of a YouGov poll of 1000 people suggested three-quarters of Australians want the minister to"force private health insurers to use some of their $1 billion in profits to keep premium increases under 3 per cent next year".
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Mr Hunt has written to insurers demanding they resubmit applications for 2020,after being hit with requests for increases understood to be an average 3.5 per cent - more than double the rate of inflation and higher than this year's 3.25 per cent hike.
Dr David said for-profit health funds were battling rising costs,with ageing members putting in more claims,hospital costs increasing and suppliers of medical devices using sales tactics to drive up expenditure.
She said the trend was"not sustainable"and government intervention was needed.
Health funds made an average net profit margin of 4.2 per cent in the three months to September - 19 per cent lower than the same period a year earlier,when the average net margin was 5.2 per cent - the latest data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority shows.