COMING TOGETHER TO ADDRESS COMMON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL NEEDS
Private Health Insurance
Mutual health insurers
Are completely focussed on the customers rather than the needs of investors
Put simply, it means the profit they make goes back into the fund instead of being divided among shareholders.
Offer good-value healthcare, creating positive competition in the market
On average, mutual health insurers paid out more cents in every dollar in premiums to members as benefits compared with the industry average.
Offer better quality products
The largest mutual health insurer, HCF, announced a 2.95% premium increase for 2021, compared with an average premium increase across the three largest for-profit insurers of 3.61%.
Examples
Australian Unity
Australian Unity is a national healthcare, financial services and independent and assisted living organisation with over 7,000 employees providing services to nearly a million Australians, including around 260,000 members nationwide. Australian Unity’s retirement communities assist over 3,000 older Australians to continue to live as independently as possible in communities with friends and supports. Australian Unity’s history as an independent mutual dates back 175 years.
Year established: 1840
Type: Mutual
Industry: Healthcare, Insurance & Risk Protection, Private Health Insurance
Avant Mutual
Avant has been protecting doctors in Australia since 1893, providing medico-legal advice and defence services for over 78,000 members. Our unshakeable belief in supporting quality, safety and professionalism in medicine, is borne out through advocacy, education and funding members’ research. Products and services in the areas of insurance, wealth, legal and practice management are created exclusively and designed specifically for doctors’ professional and personal needs, and delivered through 400 staff across the country.
Year established: 1893
Type: Mutual
Industry: Insurance & Risk Protection, Private Health Insurance
HCF
HCF is Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund with more than 1.5 million members nationwide. On average, over the last 5 years HCF has paid out more cents in every dollar in premiums to members as benefits, than the industry average.
Year established: 1932
Type: Mutual
Industry: Healthcare, Insurance & Risk Protection, Private Health Insurance