Figures released today by the Private Health Insurance Administration Council, Australia show an additional 70,000 Australians took out private health insurance in the December 2006 quarter.
The increase means that 43.4 per cent, or more than 8.9 million Australians, have private health insurance cover.
This is the sixth consecutive quarter where coverage has increased. Almost 170,000 people have taken up private health insurance in the last year.
A total of 82.9 per cent of in-hospital medical services were provided with no out-of-pocket expenses for the patient ? 0.2 per cent higher than in December 2005.
A record 8.8 million people, or 42.8 per cent of Australians, have private ancillary cover ? up by 95,000 over the preceding quarter.
Altogether, a record 10.3 million people were covered either by private hospital or ancillary policies in the December 2006 quarter.
The highest increase in coverage was amongst people aged 20-29 years. Almost 18,000 extra people in this age group are now covered.
Older Australians are also responding to the Commonwealth Government?s higher rebates, which make private health insurance more affordable. The numbers of those insured in the 65 years-plus age groups grew by almost 18,000 in the December quarter, reflecting the rebate increase from 30 to 40 per cent for people aged 70 and over and to 35 per cent for those aged 65-69 years.