Unhealthy approval

HEALTH funds will be able to close down your health fund policy and shift you to a new policy under major reforms approved by parliament that will take effect next April.

And some families will have to pay the first $1500 of private hospital bills before their insurer will provide a rebate under changes to control annual premium rises by allowing funds to charge a higher excess payment.

The biggest reforms in almost two decades will also standardise all policies into Gold, Silver, Bronze and Basic.