Medibank

Medibank (formally Medibank Private Limited, listed as ASX: MPL) is an Australian private health insurance provider. It is Australia's second largest health insurance provider, behind Bupa with 3.5 million members, 26.9% of the market across two brands (Medibank and ahm). Previously an Australian Government business enterprise, it was privatised by the Abbott Government in 2014 and now operates as a publicly listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Medibank Private Limited
Public
Traded asASX: MPL
IndustryPrivate Health Insurance & Disease management
Founded1975 as arm of the Health Insurance Commission
HeadquartersMelbourne, Australia
Key people
Craig Drummond (CEO and Managing Director - from 4 July 2016)
David Koczkar (Acting CEO and Managing Director)
Productsprivate health insurance, travel insurance, life insurance, pet insurance, workplace health promotion, workplace health management, Health call centres
RevenueA$6.37 billion (2014)[1]
$197.4 million (2012)[1]
$126.6 million (2012)[1]
Number of employees
2,700
Subsidiariesahm (Australian Health Management)
Websitewww.medibank.com.au

www.medibankhealth.com.au

www.ahm.com.au

History

Medibank began business as an Australian Government-owned private health insurer, established by the Whitlam Government in 1975 through the Health Insurance Commission.[2] Medibank was set up to provide competition to private "for-profit" health funds. It was designed to put pressure on other health funds to keep premiums at a reasonable level.[3][4]

In 2006, the Howard Coalition Government announced that Medibank would be sold in a public float if it won the 2007 election,[5][6][7] however they were defeated by the Australian Labor Party under Kevin Rudd which had already pledged that Medibank would remain in government ownership. After 2009, although continuing in government ownership, Medibank operated as a government business enterprise, operating as a fully commercialised business paying tax and dividends under the same regulatory regime as do other registered private health funds. Before the 2010 election, Liberal leader Tony Abbott made the same pledge to privatise Medibank if it won government, but the party was again defeated by Labor. Privatisation was again Liberal party policy at the 2013 election, which the Coalition won.

In March 2010, Medibank withdrew benefits for restricted services on its basic First Choice Savers hospital policy. As of June 2010, benefits for procedures such as heart operations and assisted reproductive services will be available only to customers on more comprehensive policies costing as much as 50% more.[8] Medibank stated that the changes were intended to improve customer understanding of their products. They further stated the impact on customers will be small, due to the low rate of use of the restricted services.[9]

In late March 2016, after 14 years as CEO, George Savvides retired earlier than expected. Former NAB chief financial officer Craig Drummond was offered the role and commenced on July 2016.

'Not for profit' to 'for profit' health fund

Medibank was previously run as a not for profit organisation and later operated as a for-profit government business enterprise with dividends paid to the Federal Government.[10] In May 2009, the Rudd Labor government announced that Medibank would become a 'for profit' business and would pay tax on its earnings. The process of converting the status of the business was completed on 1 October 2009, following approval from the then regulator, the Private Health Insurance Administration Council (PHIAC),[11][12] an independent statutory authority that regulated the Australian private health insurance industry until 2014. Private health insurance policy is set down by the Federal Department of Health.

Medibank privatisation

On 26 March 2014, Abbott Government Minister for Finance Mathias Cormann announced that Medibank would be sold through an initial public offering in the 2014-2015 financial year.[13]

With the Medibank Private IPO priced at $2.15, the government exceeded the indicative range of $1.55 to $2.00 disclosed in the prospectus. However, it ensured that retail investors only pay $2.00, locking in a minimum 7% gain for them in the short-term.[14] The sale raised $5.7 billion for the government.[15] The sale was completed with 100% of the company sold, listing on the Australian Stock Exchange under the code MPL on 25 November 2014, with 440,000 individual owners with a market capitalisation of A$5.921 billion.[16][17] Medibank held a 29% share of the private health insurance market.

Acquisitions and mergers

In January 2009, Medibank acquired the Wollongong-based insurer ahm (Australian Health Management) and merged with the HSA Group in April 2009.[11] Following these transactions, Medibank created the Health Solutions Division, which is focused on delivering occupational health services (such as employment medical examinations and injury treatment) and health coaching programs to help Australians manage health conditions (e.g. diabetes). Services are delivered under the Medibank Health Solutions brands.[18]

In July 2010, Medibank acquired health services provider, McKesson Asia-Pacific, absorbing it into Medibank Health Solutions. The telephone and online health management programs services provided by McKesson Asia-Pacific, including 'healthdirect Australia', 'NURSE-ON-CALL' and 'Healthline' will be maintained by Medibank.

Industry structure and main competitors

Private health insurance in Australia is heavily regulated to protect consumers. Prudential supervision is undertaken by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) to ensure health funds remain solvent.[19] APRA also publishes extensive statistics on the industry and annual financial statement for individual health funds to provide full transparency for stakeholders. The pricing and features of health insurance products is regulated by the Department of Health.[20]

To inform consumers, the Private Health Insurance Ombudsman operates a website to explain private health insurance and provide a standardised basis to compare health fund products.[21]

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References
  1. Medibank
  2. Biggs, Amanda (29 October 2004). "Medicare - Background Brief". Past E-briefs. Australian Parliamentary Library. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  3. "Opposition plans to sell Medibank Private". ABC News. 21 February 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  4. Reece, Nicholas (16 February 2013). "Hanging on to Medibank is a national health hazard". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  5. Dept. of Parliamentary Services 2006 research brief into the proposed sale of Medibank Private Archived 28 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Medibank Private: Corporate Information
  7. Packham, Ben (13 September 2006). "Election fight over $2b Medibank plan". Herald Sun. News Limited. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
  8. Metherell, Mark (25 March 2010). "Medibank slashes benefits". The Age. Retrieved 30 March 2010.
  9. Medibank Press Release - Medibank simplifying hospital products, 25 March 2010
  10. "Governance framework and principles for operating government owned business enterprises".
  11. Lindsay Tanner Press Release Archived 2 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  12. "PHIAC Press Release: PHIAC approval for conversion to a 'for profit' insurer". Archived from the original on 30 October 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
  13. "Medibank Private: Government announces sale through IPO, subject to market conditions". ABC News. 26 March 2014. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  14. Mills, Jonathan (11 November 2014). "Medibank Private IPO: a model for future privatisations". Intelligent Investor (Company). Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  15. "Medibank to raise $5.7 billion".
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 25 November 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 March 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. "Medibank Health Solutions "about us"".
  19. "PHIAC". Archived from the original on 18 March 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
  20. "Department of Health".
  21. "PHIO".
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