While growth in quarterly private hospital benefits is positive for operators like Ramsay Health Care, questions remain as to who will ultimately pay, say analysts.

According to the latest data from Australian Prudential Regulation Authority on private hospitals, benefits over the 12 months to September were up 4.1 per cent, stripping out data for day hospitals and public hospitals visits. This shows improved growth in private hospitals benefits from the June quarter at 3.4 per cent.