Health Insurance
CONTACT
Assistant Director
Health Surveys
Health Section
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Telephone (02) 6252 6403
Facsimile (02) 6252 8007
DESCRIPTION
This survey provides information about the health insurance arrangements of the Australian population, including details of the type and rate of private health insurance.
Health insurance data contributes to an understanding of family reliance on publicly funded health services and the provision families make for private health cover.
SCOPE
Persons in scope of the Labour Force Survey. Excludes persons in non-private dwellings. Since 1997, excludes persons living in some remote and sparsely settled parts of Australia.
DISSEMINATION
Publications
Health Insurance Survey, Australia (cat. no. 4335.0)
National Health Survey: Private Health Insurance, Australia (cat. no. 4334.0).
Data Service
Customised unpublished data are available in a variety of formats.
Data Details
Data are primarily available at person level. Some data are also available at contributor unit level. (Contributor units are private health insurance arrangements made by either individuals or families.)
Standard demographic, family and labour force information as for the Labour Force Survey.
Additional Demographic and Family Information
Age of head of contributor unit
Composition of contributor unit
Number of children in unit
Health insurance
Health insurance status
Type of health insurance
Level of hospital and/or ancillary cover
Contribution rate
Type of contributor unit
Reasons for insuring/not insuring
Patient type at recent hospitalisation
Other selected topics
Health concession cards
GEOGRAPHIC COVERAGE
Australia, States and Territories. Summary data can also be compiled for Labour Force Statistical Regions within each State.
FREQUENCY OF COLLECTION
Irregular. Latest survey 1998.
METHOD OF COLLECTION
Monthly Population Survey.
HISTORICAL DATA
Conducted annually from 1979 to 1984, then two-yearly through to 1992. Health insurance information has also been collected in the National Health Surveys. Because of differences in sampling, scope and coverage and survey methods, comparisons over time should be made with care.