Prices deter Toowoomba residents from health insurance

OUR SAY: I’m not at all surprised to see that more than 50 per cent of Toowoomba’s residents don’t have health insurance.

An Australian melanoma patient has shared how he made the decision to spend $100,000 on prevention treatment. Picture:istock

OUR SAY: I'm not at all surprised to see that more than 50 per cent of Toowoomba's residents don't have health insurance.

It's a massive financial commitment and one I know plenty of my close friends discuss with their spouses every time another "fee hike" comes in the mail.

It's a big financial outlay for what essentially equates to "peace of mind" for many of us - the knowledge that you'll have quick access to surgery and private health facilities if you need it.

I've always had private health cover, through my parents' policy or my own, and with my accident prone nature it's certainly paid off.

Lots of people invest in health care for little return though and that is where the government needs to step in.

We're all encouraged to have private health cover but aside from a "tax break" where is the benefit if you don't make regular claims?

I applaud Federal Government's plan to roll out legislation allowing policyholders to claim travel and accommodation related to hospitalisation, but again what happens if you don't make claims?

I'm aware it's a complicated matter and there's no easy fix.

The simplification of policies is not the answer thought.

See today's edition for statistics.

Originally published as Prices deter Toowoomba residents from health insurance