Media Release: Labor Hiding Health Cost Increase from Australians

Millions of Australians are being kept in the dark about rising healthcare costs, as the Albanese Labor Government continues to withhold critical information about private health insurance premium increase.

Right now, 14 million Australians with private health insurance have no clarity on how much more they will be forced to pay in the coming months when the next premium change takes place on 1 April 2025.

Despite the cost-of-living crisis placing enormous pressure on families, Health Minister Mark Butler has delayed the private health insurance premiums announcement, leaving households with no time to budget or shop around for better deals.

Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston said that with an election looming, it is clear that the Minister is desperate to sweep any bad news under the rug.

"We have serious concerns that Minister Butler is delaying the announcement of this year’s private health premium increase purely for political reasons,” Shadow Minister Ruston said.

“This government must not repeat their disgraceful actions from last year, when they hid the rise from Australian with private health insurance until after the Dunkley by-election.

“It would be extraordinary for a government to put off this announcement until after the election, and it would create unacceptable uncertainty for private health consumers and the entire sector.

"It is critical that the Minister provides Australians with early and transparent advice about the upcoming premium rise so that they can prepare their budgets.

“Labor appears to be on track to kill our private health system through inaction and delay.”

This secrecy comes at the same time as Australians are facing record-high out-of-pocket healthcare costs. With fewer people able to access bulk billing, more Australians are paying the highest out-of-pocket costs on record.

Under Labor, Australians are paying 45% more on average to see a doctor compared to the former Coalition Government, further straining family budgets.

The Coalition is calling on the Albanese Labor Government to be transparent and tell Australians about much their private health cover will increase this year, before an election is called.

ENDS