The Private Health Insurance Ombudsman was an
Australian Government agency which acted independently of the government in investigating complaints involving private
health insurance
Health insurance or medical insurance (also known as medical aid in South Africa) is a type of insurance that covers the whole or a part of the risk of a person incurring medical expenses. As with other types of insurance, risk is shared among ma ...
and reporting. The role and functions of the office are contained in Sections 230- 256 of the ''Private Health Insurance Act 2007''.
Role and functions
The office protected the interests of people who are covered by private health insurance by investigating complaints and assisting in the resolution of complaints. It also published independent information about private health insurance and the performance of health funds. According to the
Australian Government's website, the
ombudsman
An ombudsman (, also ,), ombud, ombuds, ombudswoman, ombudsperson or public advocate is an official who is usually appointed by the government or by parliament (usually with a significant degree of independence) to investigate complaints and at ...
"provides private health insurance members with an independent service for health insurance problems and enquiries."
The office stated that it expected to fulfill this role by handling complaints in a high quality manner; by providing information and advice to consumers; and by providing information, advice, and recommendations to the Government.
History
Originally, the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman was established on 4 March 1996 as the Private Health Insurance Complaints Commission (PHICC). The name was changed in 1998.
On 1 July 2015, the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman merged with the
Commonwealth Ombudsman
Ombudsmen in Australia are independent agencies who assist when a dispute arises between individuals and industry bodies or government agencies. Government ombudsman services are free to the public, like many other ombudsman and dispute resoluti ...
, as part of the smaller government measures in the
2014 federal budget.
[Appointment of Acting Private Health Insurance Ombudsman]
/ref>
Ombudsman officeholders
Samantha Gavel was appointed Ombudsman on 1 April 2008 for a three-year term. Gavel held the position until she was appointed in January 2015.Samantha Gavel, current PHIO has been appointed National Health Practitioner Ombudsman and Privacy Commissioner
/ref> David McGregor was appointed acting Private Health Insurance Ombudsman until 30 June 2015, when the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman was merged with the Commonwealth Ombudsman.[
]
See also
*Healthcare in Australia
Health care in Australia operates under a shared public-private model underpinned by the Medicare system, the national single-payer funding model. State and territory governments operate public health facilities where eligible patients rece ...
References
External links
Private Health Insurance Ombudsman Website
PrivateHealth.gov.au
{{Authority control
Defunct Commonwealth Government agencies of Australia
Independent government agencies of Australia
Health insurance in Australia