David Pocock (ACT, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Minister Gallagher. It's been reported in the Financial Review today that talks are starting on health insurance premium increases. Recently I had a Canberran tell me that, even with private health insurance, he was charged $20,000 out of pocket for prostate cancer treatment. I've had another tell me that they were stung $3,000 for life-saving radiotherapy. A knee replacement in the ACT is around $3,000 more expensive than the Australian median. Why should Canberrans, or any Australian, cop an increase in their insurance premiums when the private system is failing to deliver value and cover the cost of routine procedures?