Health insurers fighting ‘aggressive’ action from Healthscope

Health insurers are fighting back against the private hospital operator Healthscope after the company and its US owner Brookfield launched a campaign targeting the insurers. The campaign came to light after Healthscope claimed insurers were not paying its fair share of hospital costs but health insurers have denied the remark. CEO of Private Healthcare Australia Doctor Rachel David told Sky News Australia no amount is “enough” despite Healthscope’s trillion-dollar relationship with Brookfield. “We are pretty disappointed that Healthscope has taken this action which is very aggressive,” said Ms David. “The health fund's first priority is the 15 million people in Australia that have private health insurance, most of whom are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and are struggling to afford household bills. “The funds that have been targeted in Healthscope’s campaign signed contracts with Healthscope very recently and what Healthscope has done with its’ trillion-dollar owner Brookfield is come back and ask for extra money. “It seems no amount is enough.”