Australia health insurers and private hospitals will need to continue cutting costs to protect profit margins after the federal government on Monday approved the lowest hike to insurance premiums in 20 years.
The $8 billion health insurer wants to boost the number of people treated in their own homes as the sector grapples with how to stop members from leaving.
Against a backdrop of economic uncertainty,Medibank Private is on a chase for new members.
The $8 billion health insurer says it has increased policyholder numbers during the pandemic,but warns challenges remain.
Medibank said it had spent more than $185 million helping customers through the pandemic but CEO Craig Drummond said premium increases would have to resume.
Helloworld,Medibank Private and other call centre workers have joined Victoria's team of 1700 people making contact tracing and follow-up calls.
Choice has done a report card on health insurers'response to the pandemic,pressuring them to give back half a billion dollars saved on unused extras.
Insurance giant Medibank will pay $5 million in penalties for violating Australian Consumer Law after nearly 1400 claims from its ahm customers were incorrectly rejected.
"Compared to the vast majority of countries in the world Australia is incredibly well placed to deal with the challenge"says Craig Drummond,the boss of Australia's largest health fund.
Hotels stand ready to become quarantine wards as the coronavirus threatens to overwhelm the health system's ability to cope.
Radio hosts would broadcast from their homes under Southern Cross Austereo's coronavirus plan. Other big employers are taking similar steps.