Description of Conduct

Private Healthcare Australia Limited (PHA) has, on behalf of itself, the Members Health Fund Alliance and Private Health Insurers (together the Participating Parties), applied for revocation of authorisation AA1000487 and substitution of a new authorisation. PHA also requested urgent interim authorisation.

The Participating Parties sought authorisation (including urgent interim authorisation) to continue, and expand upon, the conduct authorised in AA1000487, which was due to end on 31 March 2021.

The Participating Parties sought authorisation (including interim authorisation) for a further six months to make, and give effect to, any contract, arrangement or understanding between them, and to discuss, engage and share information with each other, in relation to:

(a) broadening coverage under health insurance policies to include treatment for Members that contract COVID-19;

(b) broadening health insurance cover for treatment received by telephone or videoconferencing or other modes of treatment that substitute for face-to-face interaction;

(c) providing treatment in Members' homes as a substitute for an admission to hospital;

(d) providing financial relief for Members from paying health insurance premiums such as postponement of premium increases and premium waivers, and broadening the category of dependents that are able to remain on an adult's health insurance policy;

(e) utilising unreleased deferred claims liability that was provisioned for during the COVID-19 pandemic to implement favourable measures for Members;

(f) any other measure formulated in response to the COVID-19 crisis or its economic or social effects, as notified to the ACCC by PHA,

(the Proposed Conduct).

On 30 March 2021, the ACCC granted conditional interim authorisation to enable the Participating Parties to continue to engage in the conduct authorised in AA1000487 and on the same conditions as those imposed under authorisation AA1000487, excluding any measure to utilise unreleased deferred claims liability that was provisioned for during the COVID-19 pandemic. A copy of the ACCC’s decision is available via the link below.

On 8 April 2021, PHA withdrew its application for revocation of AA1000487 and substitution of a new authorisation. As a result the conditional interim authorisation, granted on 30 March 2021, ended on 8 April 2021. A copy of PHA’s letter withdrawing its application is available via the link below.

Applicant(s)

  • Private Healthcare Australia Limited

Authorisation number(s)

  • AA1000545-1