I’m no expert in health economics, but there’s been a lot of commentary over the years from some who are suggesting that the artificial lifeline given to private insurers and hospitals has done just about zip to “take the pressure off the public hospital system”, while nicely fattening pay packets and profit margins for some. At enormous cost to the public purse.
These comments from the Doctors’ Reform Society seem apposite:
Insurers are angry and say 400,000 people will drop private coverage, but Dr Tim Woodruff says they should not expect the current level of tax support to continue.
“I’m not worried about how much whinging they do. [I am] just pointing out that it is whinging because of self-interest, because they’ve got a vested interest in keeping as much money from the taxpayer rolling into their coffers as possible,” he said.
“They’ve got every reason to complain but it’s not a reason that should deter the Government from doing what they’re doing.”
