The COVID-19 pandemic presents both opportunities and challenges to private health insurers, with short-term and long-term impacts and questions being raised about its role and relevance during this time.

This updated guide provides an overview of Australia’s complex health system: what governments do, the role of private health insurance, how much we spend on health care, how Australian health outcomes compare internationally, the health care workforce and links to further information and resources.

A new agreement on hospital funding has been offered by the federal Government; all but two state governments have signed. This quick guide provides an historical overview of funding arrangements for public hospitals and recent developments. It does not address funding for capital and hospital infrastructure.

This quick guide outlines the broad arrangements around private health insurance that exist today. It provides brief information on the industry and regulatory arrangements, private health insurance membership and types of cover, government surcharges and incentives, and key features of private health insurance in Australia.

This guide provides an overview of Australia’s complex health system: what governments do, the role of private health insurance, how much we spend on health care, how Australian health outcomes compare internationally, the health care workforce and links to further information and resources.