The fifth Southern Cross Pulse report covering the six months to 30 September reveals that more than 86 cents was paid out in claims for every dollar the Health Society received in premiums.
The top three highest claims by dollar value were for three spinal fusion procedures with a combined cost of $559,000, and the age of the oldest person to receive treatment via the Health Society was 104.
During the period covered by the report, more than $564 million was paid in claims – despite healthcare service delivery being disrupted by Covid-19. Among the services covered were more than 316,000 GP visits, 300,000 prescriptions, and 241,000 specialist consultations.
The top three specialties by cost were:
- Orthopaedic: $111.17m
- Imaging & Tests: $59.53m
- General Surgery: $49.23m
Charitable surgeries, provided to those not able to be treated by the public system in a timely manner and who cannot fund the surgery themselves, included 19 orthopaedic surgeries, seven general surgeries, three endoscopy surgeries, and two plastic surgeries among others.
Download the full Pulse report here.