Private health insurers will use New South Wales Labor’s decision to charge them double for public hospital beds as leverage in a renewed push for a 6 per cent increase in premiums for 14 millions Australians next year.

The Minns government on Sunday won a protracted battle with insurers after all 53 private health funds agreed to increase what they pay for their members to use single hospital rooms starting on January 1 next year. It said the move will save the state $140 million annually.