The ACCC has released its 2006-2007 report to the Senate of ‘any anti-competitive practices by health funds or providerswhich reduce the extent of health cover for consumers and increase their out-of-pocket medical and other expenses’.

The report covers:

• Portability of health fund membership
• contracts and contract negotiation between hospitals and health funds
• the availability of useful consumer information on private health insurance products and health services

The Report noted a decrease in the overall complaints and inquiries received by the ACCC and the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman.

It has a useful overview of Australia’s health fund market (although this has since changed with the public listing of NIB and the prposed demutualisation of MBF).