ABOUT US
Origins & Principal Objectives
The Australian Health Insurance Association
Limited had its origins on 21 April 1971 when health funds met
in Canberra to form the Voluntary Health Insurance Association of Australia
Ltd. VHIAA was incorporated on 2 December 1986, taking over the
role, functions and assets of the previously unincorporated body which itself
represented an industry Association combining the interests of "open" Health
Funds and Friendly Societies in health insurance. In November 1991 VHIAA changed
its name to the Australian Health Insurance Association Limited (AHIA) and
amended its articles to allow all non-government health funds to take out
membership. AHIA currently (as at July 2008) has 23 nationally registered
member organisations, which collectively represents approximately 94 percent of persons covered by health insurance.
The principal objective of the Association
is to advance the interests of its members and their contributors at every
opportunity in relations with governments, the media, and other organisations
involved in the health care field.
It also provides an information and
advisory service in relation to issues affecting health financing and maintains,
on an industry basis, ongoing relationships with other professional groups
and industry associations.
The role and objectives of the
Association are:
- To foster and promote the
principles, practice, development and philosophy of voluntary health insurance;
- To make representations and
submissions where deemed necessary or desirable to the appropriate persons
or authorities in respect of any matter affecting the interests of members
- To provide a medium through
which opinions of members may be ascertained or expressed;
The other objectives for which the
Association is established are:
- To consult and liaise with
relevant national, international and institutional authorities and agencies
in Australia and overseas ;
- To maintain close cooperation
with departments and agencies of the Government of Australia in order
to be fully informed as to Government policies relating to voluntary health
insurance;
- To encourage by such means
as the Association deems appropriate the interest and participation of
the Australian public in the activities of the Association and its members.
Activities
AHIA publishes regular commentaries on health
insurance issues, statistical information and analysis and benchmarking information
to its members. It is involved on a number of Governmental working parties
and committees and various private healthcare liaison groups.
The Association is affiliated with the International
Federation of Health Plans (iFHP) and maintains a close dialogue with equivalent
organisations overseas to ensure its members are kept advised of health financing
issues throughout the world.
AHIA's
President is Mr Terry Smith MBE RFD ED, Chief Executive of HCF and
has been President since 2001.
The
Chief Executive Officer is The Hon Dr Michael Armitage.
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