Private Health Insurance Ombudsman
PHIO
1998 – 1 July 2015
Previously Private Health Insurance Complaints Commissioner (1995–1998).
Independent statutory office that resolved complaints about private health insurance, published comparative information on health insurance policies and reported annually on the state of the health funds.
Names over time
- Private Health Insurance Complaints Commissioner1995–1998
- Private Health Insurance Ombudsman1998–2015
How it came into existence
Took this name in 1998, when the Private Health Insurance Complaints Commissioner, established in 1995, was renamed the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman.
Legislation: National Health Act 1953; Private Health Insurance Act 2007
Changes during its life
- 1 April 2007The Private Health Insurance Act 2007 replaced the National Health Act 1953 as the basis of the office.
How it ended
Absorbed into the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman on 1 July 2015; the Commonwealth Ombudsman has since performed the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman role.
- Private health insurance complaints handling
Main functions
- Complaints about private health insurers and brokers
- Mediation of disputes involving providers and insurers
- Consumer information on private health insurance (privatehealth.gov.au)
- State of the Health Funds reports
- Advice to government on consumer issues
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Department of Health.
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to 18 May 2015)
Government records and websites
Other sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.