|
|
Article: Executive suite: Gavin Gunning, Standard & Poor's director for Financial Services Ratings, comments on Australia's health insurance industry in the wake of reports Axa Asia Pacific is in merger talks with Medical Benefits Fund of Australia. (News).(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- Australian Banking & Finance
- Article date:
- March 15, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 First Charlton Communications Pty Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
"The industry is clearly over-insured. There are over 40 health insurance companies in Australia - we believe there is room for consolidation with no detrimental effects on competition.
The main benefit of consolidation is there will be fewer numbers of health insurance companies, but these companies on an individual basis will be stronger.
Hence that will have a strengthening effect on the health insurance industry generally.
It will create economies of scale for players within the industry, which will have a positive effect in that costs should come down.
There is a number of small health insurance companies.
There is room ...