UNPROVEN natural therapies will be stripped of government subsidies, amid signs private health insurers and their members have embraced the so-called alternatives to traditional medicine and driven up costs. More than half of all Australians — about 13 million people — have general treatment policies, many of which now provide cover for alternative medicine and still attract the government rebate. Under changes being considered for April 1, the rebate would be stripped from any policies covering natural therapies not supported by scientific evidence. Documents obtained from the insurance regulator, the Private Health Insurance Administration Council, reveal natural therapies have been responsible for the biggest increase in benefits paid to members outside of hospital services — an incredible 345 per cent increase in 10 years.
Posted on: Sat, 03 Jan 2015 01:28:05 +0000
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