Members Health Fund Alliance

What an incredible two days in Adelaide for the Members Health General Meeting & Industry Dinner! Thank you to our presenters and attendees for your insights, energy, and contributions across two packed days. Day One was all about collaboration and insights through our Operations and Marketing Committee meetings: Brad Shaw (livepro) showed how knowledge management can make AI tools truly work for people, not the other way around. Daniel Erasmus (Insight Actuaries & Consultants) unpacked the tricky “asymmetries of data” in PHI at Ops, then spoke to Marketing on pricing and compliance dynamics. Amy Villalobos (CBHS Health Fund Limited) walked us through a brilliant operational excellence case study, proof that efficiency and member care go hand in hand. Michelle Tustin (Ipsos in Australia) brought members’ voices to life with segmentation and persona insights. Charisse Thompson, Wade Stokes and Chloe Eckert (Health Partners) turned the Customer Experience session into an interactive (and lively!) discussion across both Ops and Marketing. Day Two kept the momentum with our General Meeting, featuring: Suhit Anantula (The Helix Lab) proving that AI can be both powerful and human-centred. Kylie Sproston FTSE FMPP GAICD (Bellberry) giving insigths on horizon scanning the innovations reshaping healthcare. Jon Adams (NAB) providing an update on payments future. And finally, a big thanks to our generous sponsors: JBWere, NAB Health, HICAPS, Finity ,GSA Insurance Brokerss,Kieser Australia,PassportCardd,Airteam, and McGrathNicoll. Your support makes events like this possible. Here’s to carrying forward the ideas, connections, and momentum as we continue to put members health before profit.

GP care is becoming unaffordable for too many Australians and the latest Cleanbill report confirms it. All the research shows that if people put off seeing their local GP due to expense, it can lead to avoidable medical outcomes. At Members Health, we believe it's time to end the outdated restrictions that prevent health funds from helping cover soaring GP out-of-pocket costs. Read our full statement on why this reform is needed now: https://lnkd.in/gtmvhi5w #PeopleNotProfit #AffordableHealthcare #GPReform #PrimaryCare #MembersHealth #NotForProfitHealth #HealthPolicy 

EOFY is here, and money is on everyone’s mind. It’s the time of year we all start reviewing our subscriptions, insurance policies, and financial services to make sure we’re getting real value. Is health insurance on your list this year? If it is — look for the tick. The tick makes it easy to spot health funds that are not-for-profit or member-owned. Funds that put people before profits. Instead of paying shareholders, these health funds reinvest in better value for members: more benefits, better service, and support that puts your health first. So when you see the tick, you know your fund is truly focused on you not shareholder returns. This EOFY, make sure your health insurance reflects your values. Look for the tick and choose a fund that puts you first. #EOFY #HealthInsurance #PeopleBeforeProfits #MemberOwned #NotForProfit #LookForTheTick

Members Health Fund Alliance has released data published in The Australian showing that when compared to average public hospital costs - a cardiac defibrillator can cost $25,630 more for private patients; a spinal fusion can cost $18,065 more; a pacemaker $7111 more; and a hip implant $2600 more. At a time when Australians are being confronted with unprecedented cost of living pressures, the Anthony Albanese Government should be addressing the issue of inflated prostheses prices as a top priority. Coverage in today's The Australian by helen trinca here: https://lnkd.in/gmuMrbYQ Members Health has set out its plan to fix the prostheses mess in its media release here: https://lnkd.in/gdChuh8s Anne Ruston Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing #auspol #healthfund #healthinsurance #healthcare #hospital #prostheses #mhfa #notforprofit #memberowned #peoplenotprofits #MarkButlerMP Jenny McAllister Sam Rae MP Emma McBride Rebecca White

Recent reports have raised concerns about data manipulation in some of Australia's public hospitals. Investigations are underway into allegations that emergency department and elective surgery wait times have been adjusted to meet targets, potentially misrepresenting the actual patient experience. As more Australians take out private health insurance and use private hospitals, it will help reduce pressure on the public health system by freeing up beds for those most in need. The latest data from APRA, for the March 2025 quarter, shows that people with hospital insurance cover grew by 81,309. Our member funds put people before profits. We advocate for a healthcare system that provides Australians with genuine choices. Investing in private health insurance not only offers individuals more control over their healthcare journey but also reduces pressure on the public system, contributing to a more sustainable healthcare landscape for all. By choosing a fund that is member-owned or not-for-profit, consumers can be confident their premiums are going back into better services and value, not shareholder dividends. #peoplenotprofits #PrivateHealth #MembersHealth #NotForProfit #HealthcareChoices #PatientCare #TransparencyInHealthcare #memberowned #healthcare #healthinsurance #healthfund 

The news of Healthscope entering receivership has raised concern, but Australia’s private health system remains strong. Not-for-profit and member-owned health funds continue to deliver real value and put people before profits, prioritising affordability, access, and long-term stability. Members Health funds maintain national partnerships with a diverse network of private hospitals and allied healthcare providers such as dentists, physiotherapists and optometrists to help ensure ongoing access to care right across the country. Read more in our newly published article on our website.  #MembersHealth #PrivateHealthInsurance #NotForProfit #HealthcareAccess #MemberOwned https://lnkd.in/g3jpNSAc

That’s a wrap on our Annual General Meeting and Conference! Over the past few days, we had the privilege of bringing together leaders from across our sector to share insights, discuss big ideas, and explore opportunities to improve health outcomes. A huge thank you to our incredible speakers: 🔹 Gerard Op de Coul, CEO, Mildura Health – on expanding healthcare access in the Mildura & Sunraysia region, including cancer treatment, hospital growth, and patient accommodation. 🔹 Ian Whitehead GAICD, (Latrobe Health Services), Adam McLeod (SiSU Health Group), & Ben McLean (Wesfarmers Health) – on disease prevention, PHI partnerships, and the evolving role of digital health. 🔹 Brett Long, Kieser Australia – on chronic disease management and post-surgery care. 🔹 Sally Auld GAICD, JBWere – on the economic outlook and its impact on private health insurance. We’re inspired by the conversations and collaborations that took place and look forward to driving positive change in the industry. Thank you to everyone who joined us!

Thank you to Darin Lloyd from Simple for presenting to our Marketing Committee today. Your actionable insights on streamlining marketing processes through software solutions sparked some fascinating conversations and ideas. 

Not only do our member funds deliver more back in benefits to their members, they also strive for customer service excellence. It was great for our Marketing Committee to hear from Daniel Pole and Jack Jefferies from Ipsos Australia during today’s committee meeting that the hard work is paying off and our member funds have very satisfied members. Across the cohort Members Health funds average 87% customer satisfaction. Well done to all the funds, putting people before profits!

Thanks to Magdalena Herceg for sharing with the Operations Committee insights on claims automation from her experience at Westfund Health Insurance. This type of presentation is really valuable to our committee members, learning from others experience is an incredibly efficient and beneficial way to spark conversations and ideas for their organisations.