The Briefing

Armed man killed at Mar-a-Lago + How to beat the private health hike

·21 min·2 clips
Half of Australians have private health insurance, but a new 5% premium hike is hitting just as many never use their policies.
The episode opens with host Sacha Barbour Gatt introducing a segment on private health insurance premium increases. Chris Spyrou then headlines the news, starting with the coalition's bill to prosecute those assisting ISIS-linked women and children returning to Australia. Next, he reports on a Secret Service agent shooting an armed man at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, noting Trump was not present. The news continues with Donald Trump reinstating tariffs on imports, potentially affecting Australian beef and wine exports. Chris covers Ahmed Al-Ahmed's first interview since tackling the Bondi attacker, and Australia's record Winter Olympics performance prompting funding debates. The second half features an interview with consumer expert Joel Gibson on private health insurance. Gibson explains the 4.41% average premium hike, noting it's higher for most due to market concentration. He details government negotiations, citing ageing populations and hospital costs as drivers. Gibson discusses insurer profits, with Medibank making nearly $300 million, and addresses whether to ditch coverage. He advises shopping around, revealing a 29% loyalty penalty for long-term customers and tips like downgrading coverage or splitting policies.

As heard by us

A brisk news run turns rising private health premiums into a practical question about value.

The Briefing sets a cost-of-living pressure point against the week's political churn, moving from proposed laws for Australians linked to terror organisations returning from Syria to private health insurance premiums rising 4.41 percent, the biggest jump in almost a decade, with…

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You want the 4.41 percent private-health increase unpacked without losing the household-bill angle.

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