Medibank reveals top private health insurance claims for 2023

Most expensive claims outlined

Medibank reveals top private health insurance claims for 2023

Life & Health

By Roxanne Libatique

Medibank has released data detailing the highest hospital claims and associated costs for 2023.

The top 10 hospital claims for 2023, categorised by the number of admissions, were:

  1. Renal dialysis
  2. Chemotherapy
  3. Colonoscopy
  4. Gastroscopy
  5. Non-surgical – orthopaedics
  6. Psychiatry
  7. Lens and glaucoma treatment
  8. Eye procedures
  9. Surgical orthopaedics
  10. Neurology

Most expensive claims

Medibank revealed that the highest private health insurance claim for 2023 reached $321,000, attributed to neonatal services. Following closely was a claim of $274,000 for tracheostomy, underscoring the substantial financial commitments associated with such medical procedures. The third-highest claim, totalling $258,000, was related to an overseas student receiving medical attention through ahm.

The most expensive claims for 2023 were:

  • neonatal – $321,000;
  • tracheostomy – $274,000;
  • public system (overseas student) – $258,000;
  • neonatal – $249,000; and
  • tracheostomy - $229,000.

Among the top 20 most expensive hospital claims, Medibank disbursed a total of $4.5 million to customers who experienced extended hospital stays, accumulating a total of 1,351 days collectively – equivalent to almost four years. Notably, 17 out of these top 20 claims involved patients spending time in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Role of private health insurance

Medibank chief customer officer Milosh Milisavljevic highlighted the substantial payouts as examples of the crucial role health insurance plays in facilitating access to intricate medical treatments.

“These claims that Medibank paid for customers represent complex treatments. We were able to support our customers during a very stressful time in their lives, to get the care they needed,” he said. “We want our customers to understand their health insurance and make sure it fits their needs.”

In other news, the My Home Hospital service – a joint venture between a Medibank business and a healthcare organisation – recently celebrated a milestone.

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