The AMA Private Health Insurance Report Card 2019 provides consumers with clear, simple information about how health insurance really works. However, it again highlights an insurance system under pressure.

The COVID-19 pandemic presents both opportunities and challenges to private health insurers, with short-term and long-term impacts and questions being raised about its role and relevance during this time.

The research in this paper suggests that Australia’s private health insurers are set to enjoy a windfall of between $3.5 billion and $5.5 billion over the next six months.

This report analyses key competition and consumer developments and trends in the private health insurance industry between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019, including ACCC enforcement and other actions relating to the health sector.

New private health insurance data show young people are continuing to drop their cover. But the industry's argument a youth exodus will put pressure on public hospitals isn't necessarily right.