Posted by Michael Wonder on 27 Mar 2017
Fewer Australians are taking up health insurance each year, new data shows
27 March 2017 - After 10 years of enduring health insurance premium price hikes, the Hannah family of Elermore Vale in Newcastle is on the verge of dumping their policy.
Alisha and Patrick Hannah, who have had three daughters in that time, are struggling to live within their budget, despite downgrading to a "basic" level of hospital cover and cancelling their extras cover.
The upcoming, government-approved premium hike of 4.9 per cent makes them feel "nervous and sick".
"The cost keeps going up and we can't afford it because our budget can only stretch by so much and we're not seeing the value," says Ms Hannah, who works part-time in administration.
