June 2012 News

The latest data on social trends released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has revealed the life expectancy of adults around the country is the fourth-best in the world.

Released earlier this week (June 26), the report indicates that Australians ranked equal fourth in terms of longevity alongside Israel - and were only beaten by Japan, Switzerland and Spain.

Data taken from a 2008 OECD study also showed Australian non-smoking rates are better than average, with just 17 per cent of those over the age of 15 smoking, compared with the OECD average of 21 per cent.

Whether you're over the age of 30 and scrambling to avoid the lifetime health cover loading or a higher income earner who will be affected by rebate means testing from July 1, many Australians will be looking to learn more about private health insurance policies - and fast!

New research released by the Victorian state government has revealed residents have some mixed attitudes towards healthy eating and physical exercise.

Unveiled by health minister David Davis yesterday (June 26), the market research study evaluated almost 4,400 Victorians to provide an extensive insight into the health behaviour of adults across the state.

The Queensland state government is bracing itself for a "means-test health exodus" from July 1, according to News Limited reports.

According to the Courier Mail, it is believed that almost 15 per cent of Queenslanders will remove their health cover when the federal government begins means testing its private health insurance rebate.