Paying up to jump hospital queues

THOUSANDS of Australians have signed up for private health cover solely to avoid public system waiting periods, new research has revealed.

A Finder.com.au survey of 1200 health policy holders found 16 per cent only wanted to skip the queue, while additional research found 19 per cent of people without cover had paid to visit a private hospital, rather than wait to be seen at a public hospital.

Peace of mind was a driving force, said Finder.com.au spokeswoman Bessie Hassan.

“In many cases, patients wish to be seen more urgently than what is offered in the public system and are prepared to pay to jump the queue,” Ms Hassan said.

Finder.com.au estimated Australians spent a total of 149,000 years waiting for elective surgery in 2017, while Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) data revealed average waiting times were 38 days in 2016-17. NSW residents waited 54 days, ahead of ACT locals (46) and Tasmanians (45). Northern Territorians had the fastest turnaround at 28 days.

Ms Hassan said public hospital elective surgery waiting lists were growing by almost 3 per cent a year and that more people choosing private could help relieve some of that pressure; but that the private system also involved some waiting times, despite costing hundreds a month in premiums and fees such as an excess.

A separate study by comparethemarket.com.au found hospital surgery wait times were at their worst in 15 years and a staggering 42 per cent of policy holders aged over 65 had taken out health insurance to skip the queues.

“With half of Aussies waiting up to 193 days for a knee replacement and 110 days for hip replacement surgery, it’s no surprise avoiding wait times is the most common driver for Aussies, especially those who are older,” Comparethemarket. com.au spokeswoman Abigail Koch said.