Private health insurance use in Australian hospitals, 2006–07 to 2015–16
Publication
Release Date:
Topic: Hospitals
Citation
AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) (2017) Private health insurance use in Australian hospitals, 2006–07 to 2015–16, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 19 June 2026.
PDF | 2.4MB
This report presents information on admitted patient hospitalisations that were completely or partially funded by private health insurance in Australia’s public and private hospitals over the past 10 years. It compares private health insurance-funded hospitalisations with hospitalisations for public patients and patients funded by other sources. Private health insurance is funding a growing proportion of public hospital admissions—rising from about 1 in 12 in 2006–07, to 1 in 7 in 2015–16.
- ISSN: 2205-5096 (PDF) 1036-613X (Print)
- ISBN: 978-1-76054-270-2
- Cat. no: HSE 196
- Pages: 172
Findings from this report:
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Private health insurance funded public hospital admissions are growing—from 8.2% in 2006–07 to 13.9% in 2015–16
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Private health patients' median waiting time for elective surgery is 20 days, compared to 42 days for public patients
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Patients aged >75 or <19 had more private health stays in public hospitals (30%, 12%) than private hospitals (21%, 5%)