The percentage of Australians between the ages of 20 to 39 with private health insurance has fallen from 40% to 34% over the past five years. During the same period, older Australians have been claiming more on than their health insurance than ever.
Private health premiums are rising much faster than inflation and wages growth:
Therefore, young people are dropping their cover, leaving older and sicker people in the system, which is driving premiums up further:
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