Todays Saving private health 1: reining in hospital costs and specialist bills report by the Grattan Institute has confirmed the crisis in private health insurance will continue unless policies are changed and savings are made.

This report has highlighted the fact that under this Government private health insurance is being abandoned at an alarming rate, leading to increasingly unaffordable costs.

This is while out of pocket health costs and wait times for health care are at record highs.

The report states: Most Australians do not have private hospital insurance, and even though the industry gets $6 billion a year in subsidies from taxpayers, the most common reason people cite for not having insurance is cost.

Greg Hunt has been sitting on his hands while health costs across the board have been soaring.

This report identifies policy options which would make savings of $2 billion a year.

The Grattan Institute estimates passing those savings onto patients could save 7 10 per cent off premiums and claims this may save private health care in Australia.

Had the Government implemented a root and branch inquiry of the system, they could be contemplating real savings to sustain the sector, and provide value for money to consumers.

Last weeks Quarterly Private Health Insurance Statistics have confirmed thousands of young Australians aged 25 34 abandoned their hospital insurance from June to September.

The Government should accept responsibility when it comes to taking action on private health insurance reform and call for a root and branch review of the entire sector to ensure customers are getting value for money.

This report vindicates Labors stance that private health insurance should be examined holistically, and that reform is overdue.

The only way to address the private health insurance crisis is with a root and branch review of the system.

The time for a review into private health insurance is now.