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Letters to the Editor
The following Letters to the Editor, penned by the Australian Private Hospitals Association (APHA), include commentary and/or rebuttal covering important facts, figures and issues of importance to the sector and its patients, published in various forums...
October 2026
- 27 Oct 2026
It's not mental health driving gold-tier woes
Taking health insurers at their word is fraught at the best of times. So claims of mental health patients being the problem when it comes to Gold policies being viable warrants a deeper dive. Our letter correcting these assertions in the AFR...
- 20 Oct 2026
Don't spare insurers in health cost debate
Demonising doctors is a convenient distraction. Their gap fees pale by comparison with the out-of-pockets foist on unsuspecting patients due to exclusions in their hospital insurance cover. Our letter in the Australian Financial Review...
- 17 Oct 2026
Rebate carve-out is meanest test
Carving out pensioners from PHI rebate cuts. Where does that leave part-pensioners and self-funded retirees? Eligibility for the rebate is means tested. Such a move would be means testing the means test. Our letter in the SMH, Mercury & Canberra Times...
- 14 Oct 2026
An unhealthy gap
Medical gap fees are an issue. But health insurers are masters of misdirection. Demonising doctors conveniently ignores that 72% of insurance polices are leaving patients high and dry with huge out-of-pocket costs. Our letter in The Australian...
July 2026
- 15 Jul 2026
Insurers are the real healthcare culprits
It might be touching if not so disingenuous. Insurers hike Gold premiums by 70% over recent years and encourage people to take out lesser coverage, they are foisting massive gap payments on patients to save themselves claims costs. Our Letter in the AFR...
- 3 Jul 2026
Clinical cost-cutting bad for healthcare
APHA's response to media reports on 'no gap surgery', highlighting the threat to patients and clinical outcomes when health insurers own private hospitals. Published in the Sydney Morning Herald...