Health Legislation Amendment (Improving Choice and Transparency for Private Health Consumers) Bill 2026; Second Reading

Opened the debate

McAllister moved the second reading of the bill, arguing it would enable Australians to make informed decisions about healthcare costs. McAllister highlighted that over 800,000 people delayed specialist care in 2024-25 due to cost uncertainty. The legislation would publish fee data from government sources on the Medical Costs Finder, addressing low voluntary participation rates. It also aimed to close loopholes allowing insurers to launch new products at higher prices without scrutiny.

Government response

McAllister explained that Schedule 1 would amend health insurance acts to publish expected medical fees and out-of-pocket costs using existing billing data. McAllister noted that voluntary uptake of the Medical Costs Finder had been low, with only 1-2% of specialists participating by December 2025. The bill would protect consumer privacy while allowing practitioners to request reviews of published fee information. This measure was presented as essential for reducing uncertainty and enabling cost comparisons between providers.