Question 1

The Liberal-Coalition Government introduced the Lifetime Community Rating Scheme in 1997.The 'community rating' of the Lifetime Community Rating Scheme means that:&#10;A)premiums are not based on a person's age or medical history&#10;B)premiums are based on a person's medical history and occupation&#10;C)premiums are based on a person's age,medical history and occupation&#10;D)premiums are based on a person's age and occupation

Accepted Answer

The 'community rating' means that premiums are not based on a person's medical history or age.Instead,everyone is entitled to buy the same product,at the same price (except for Lifetime Health Cover),and is guaranteed the right to renew their policy.

Question 2

Religious orders were responsible for the founding of which of the following?&#10;A)Public hospitals&#10;B)Private hospitals&#10;C)Bush nursing hospitals&#10;D)Large public hospitals in major cities and some private hospitals

Accepted Answer

Private hospitals in Australia were usually founded by religious orders or private owners.The larger religious orders also began the large public hospitals in our major cities.The bush nursing hospitals were built and owed by the local communities.

Question 3

Which of the following best represents the types of hospital run by the private sector?&#10;A)Acute hospitals,psychiatric hospitals and freestanding day hospital facilities&#10;B)Freestanding day hospital facilities and radiology and pathology services&#10;C)Acute hospitals and aged-care facilities&#10;D)Day surgery facilities and psychiatric hospitals

Accepted Answer

Broadly,the private sector runs three types of hospital:acute hospitals,psychiatric hospitals and freestanding day hospital facilities which provide day surgeries.

Question 4

Which of the following reflects the proportion of admitted-patient days for Australian hospitals?&#10;A)Public hospitals account for almost twice as many admitted-patient days compared with private hospitals&#10;B)Private hospitals account for almost twice as many admitted-patient days compared with public hospitals&#10;C)Private hospitals and public hospitals account for approximately equal admitted-patient days&#10;D)Public hospitals account for approximately ten times the admitted-patient days of private hospitals

Accepted Answer

In 2012-2013,there were almost 27.7 million admitted-patient days for all hospitals:18.8 million in public hospitals and 8.9 million in private hospitals (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data).

Question 5

The majority of which of the following services are part of the private sector of health care in Australia?&#10;A)Admitted-patient days&#10;B)Hospital beds&#10;C)Radiology and pathology services&#10;D)Acute hospital care

Accepted Answer

The private sector comprises private hospitals,most medical,dental and allied health services,pharmacies,much of the aged care sector,most radiology and pathology services,private health insurance and many companies engaged in the manufacturing of medical devices and e-health technologies.

Question 6

What was a 'Friendly Society'?&#10;A)An association that,for an annual fee,assisted members during sickness or unemployment&#10;B)An elite group that allowed access to Society doctors&#10;C)An early form of Medicare&#10;D)A group of doctors who would treat patients at no charge

Accepted Answer

Private health insurance in Australia began with the Friendly Society movements of the 1840s,which were mutual associations set up for the purposes of insurance to assist members during sickness,or unemployment.Subscription to a Friendly Society gave its members access to a Friendly Society doctor and access to medicine dispensed from a Friendly Society dispensary.

Question 7

Is it possible for privately insured patients to use the public hospital system?&#10;A)No;privately insured patients can only use private hospitals and facilities&#10;B)No;privately insured patients cannot use public hospitals as this is preventing public patients from doing so&#10;C)Yes;privately insured patients must declare their private health insurance status and are personally responsible for any financial discrepancies in charges between private and public health services&#10;D)Yes;privately insured patients can choose to be a private patient in a public hospital,or can choose not to declare their private health insurance status

Accepted Answer

There is no legal reason why privately insured patients cannot use the public hospital system.Patients using the public hospital system are under no obligation to declare their private health insurance status.

Question 8

Which state of Australia hosts the most private day hospital facilities?&#10;A)Queensland&#10;B)New South Wales&#10;C)Victoria&#10;D)South Australia

Accepted Answer

In 2012-2013,New South Wales hosted more day hospital facilities and total private hospitals than other Australian states and territories (Australian Bureau of Statistics data).

Question 9

The Liberal-Coalition Government introduced Lifetime Health Cover in 1997.Lifetime Health Cover is:&#10;A)a means-tested subsidy for Medicare&#10;B)a tax penalty based on medical history&#10;C)an age-based tax penalty for those with private health insurance&#10;D)a means-tested tax penalty for those without private health insurance.

Accepted Answer

Lifetime Health Cover is a means-tested tax penalty for those without private health insurance.Australians who do not have hospital cover with an Australian health fund pay a 2% loading on top of their Private Health Insurance premium for every year they are aged over 30 and delay taking out such insurance.

Question 10

Before the 1990s,which of the following private hospital services were rare?&#10;A)Paediatric units&#10;B)Orthopaedic services&#10;C)Acute-care services&#10;D)Intensive care units

Accepted Answer

Private hospitals are increasingly providing emergency departments,intensive care units and cardiac and oncology units,which before the 1990s were rare outside the public sector.

Deck 3: The Private Health Sector and Private Health Insurance