31 July 2017 - Private health insurance is on track to become unaffordable for one in five policyholders, the peak industry body warns, as its ­research identifies a system under stress.

Private Healthcare Australia chief executive Rachel David, in her response to a Senate inquiry on the industry, said consumers were feeling “real pain” from rising health costs, including premium increases and gaps for medical and allied health.

“Premium increases above CPI are hurting consumers in a low wage growth environment,” Ms David said. “In five to six years, price sensitivity modelling shows that premiums will potentially ­become unaffordable for at least one-fifth of people with private health insurance.”

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