Media

Selected media interviews and coverage (since 2020).

  1. SBS Mandarin, interviewed by Jason Liu. Government plans to scrap extra health insurance rebates for seniors — is private cover still worth it? Sept 21, 2026 Link
  2. Media mention, The Local Paper - Southern Cross Weekly, “Exodus unlikely” — cites Yuting Zhang’s research on the impact of private health insurance rebate changes for older Australians Sept 16, 2026 Link
  3. Interviewed by Paige Cockburn (Health reporter/Multiplatform producer, ABC Specialist Reporting Team), ABC TV, private health insurance rebate changes for older Australians. Aired Sept 14, 2026 Link
  4. Live interview by Laura Tchilinguirian, ABC Radio Drive, private health insurance rebate changes for older Australians. Sept 4, 2026
  5. Live interview by Alice Matthews, ABC Radio Canberra (The Afternoons program), private health insurance rebate changes for older Australians. Sept 4, 2026
  6. Media mention, doorstop press conference by Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Ageing, Sydney — cites Yuting Zhang and Kevin Staub’s modelling on how many people will drop private health insurance under the proposed rebate changes for over-65s. Sept 4, 2026 Link
  7. Media mention, Croakey Health Media — Stephen Duckett (with Melissa Sweet) writes in support of the Senate submission by Yuting Zhang, Nathan Kettlewell, Judith Liu, Kevin Staub, Ou Yang and Jongsay Yong on the Private Health Insurance Amendment (Modernising the Private Health Insurance Rebate) Bill 2026, arguing opposition to the reform is alarmist and not evidence-based. Sept 4, 2026 Link
  8. Interviewed by Grace Marshall (with Sarah Buchecker), ABC News, Older Australians consider dropping private health insurance over proposed rebate changes. 30 Aug 2026 Link
  9. Melissa Davey, Medical Editor, the Guardian, Ending higher private health rebate for Australians 65 and over is ‘good policy change’, report co-author finds. 27 Aug 2026 Link
  10. Media mention, Croakey Health Media (The Zap, by Melissa Sweet). Catching you up with the latest health and aged care news — cites our research on the proposed private health insurance rebate changes for over-65s. 11 Aug 2026 Link
  11. SBS News, What to expect from health insurance rebate changes (with Kevin Staub and Nathan Kettlewell; republished from The Conversation). 6 Aug 2026 Link
  12. Live interview on ABC Central West NSW AM - Drive with Jess McGuire. Private health insurance rebates cut. Aug 6 2026
  13. Interviewed by Noah Yim, the Australian, Health rebate cut a stitch-up Aug 1, 2026 Link
  14. Interviewed by Jenna Price, the Sydney Morning Herald. “Is health insurance worth it?” May 20, 2026 Link
  15. Interviewed by Mariella Attard from Health Services Daily, Seniors PHI rebate changes not as scary as some make out, May 6, 2026 Link
  16. Melissa Davey, Medical Editor, the Guardian, Australian health insurance premiums just had their biggest hike in a decade. Is it time to scrap private health cover. 19 Feb 2026 Link
  17. Interviewed by Oliver Gordon, ABC Radio, Is private health insurance worth it? 18 Feb 2026
  18. Live interview by Alice Matthews, ABC Canberra Radio, new legislation to help Australians find the best value when they need specialist medical treatment. Feb 12, 2026 Link
  19. SBS mandarin, interviewed by Jason Liu Feb 5, 2026. Why are private specialist fees so expensive Link
  20. Live interviewed by Kathleen O’Connor, ABC Radio, Dec 5, 2025. Federal Government vows action on cost of private health Link
  21. Interviewed by Natasha Robinson, The Australian, Soaring specialist fees force Labor to weigh radical intervention, Dec 6, 2025
  22. Interviewed by Natasha Robinson, The Australian, All options on the table: Labor takes on specialist doctors’ fees. Dec 5, 2025
  23. ABC Radio Tasmania’s Mornings show live interview, with David Reilly, health shock effect on family time and money allocation, (starts at 1:20:00) 9:50am, Oct 9, 2025 Link
  24. ABC TV live interview, with Meredith Sheehan. Live TV interview about private health insurance amid ACCC fining Bupa $35m for unlawful rejecting claims ABC TV News Channel 4:30pm July 4, 2025 Link
  25. SBS mandarin, interviewed by Jason Liu, The consultation fees of specialist doctors in Australia have soared. How can people compare and choose? June 25, 2025 Link
  26. ABC TV live interview, with Kathryn Robinson, ways to improve specialist care. June 16, 2025 Link
  27. ABC NewsRadio, live interview with Laura Tchilinguirian, specialist fees. June 16, 2025
  28. Triple J Hack. Specialist fee. June 16, 2025
  29. The Guardian, interviewed by Adeshola Ore, improving Australians’ access to specialist care. One million Australians missing specialist doctor appointments due to cost, report finds | Health | The Guardian June 15, 2025 Link
  30. ABC Sunshine Coast, Southern Queensland Drive, live interview with Annie Gaffney. Growing financial burden on Australians seeking specialist medical care. June 5, 2025
  31. Australian Associated Press (AAP), Interviewed by Seb Tan. Cheaper complementary health treatments are on the way, June 8 2025 Link
  32. SBS mandarin, interviewed by Jason Liu, private hospitals. June 6, 2025 Link
  33. Azzet, interviewed by Garry West. Sick bay: Hospitals-insurers’ relationship clings to life June 16, 2025 Link
  34. The Guardian, interviewed by Natasha May. More Australians can’t afford specialist fees. Experts say it’s ‘not in the spirit of Medicare’ | Medicare Australia | The Guardian. June 4 2025 Link
  35. BBC news, interviewed by Tiffanie Turnbull. Australia’s universal healthcare is crumbling. Can it be saved? April 25, 2025 Link
  36. SBS Chinese, Patients pinched as out of pocket costs to a GP rise. Interviewed by Xinyu Li. March 6 2025 Link
  37. ABC Radio Alice Springs, live interview with Stewart Brash on Breakfast, 9:15am March 3, 2025. On whether people should buy private health insurance in Alice Springs
  38. ABC Radio Darwin NT, live interview with Jess Ong, producer Daleen Jeenmuang, Feb 20, 2025 Link
  39. Herald Sun, Interviewed by Suzan Delibasic, education reporter. “Six hacks to save on your private health insurance” or “Get smart as health cover rises”. Feb 14, 2025 Link
  40. 4BC Afternoons with Sofie Formica in Brisbane, executive producer Jarryd Braybrook. 3 June 2024, 1:07pm Link
  41. ABC Newcastle and New South Wales, live interview with Paul Turton Morning Show, 10:08am June 3 2024 Link
  42. 2CC Radio Canberra Drive show, live interview Leon Delaney, 4:50pm 3rd June 2024 Link
  43. SBS news, June 4 2024 Link
  44. ABC the World Today, live interview with Gevin Coote, 15 Feb 2024, “Private health insurers criticized over price rises,” Link
  45. ABC’s national audio program RN Drive, live interview by Andy Park, Producer Nancy Notzon, 4:15pm. “Is private health insurance worth it?” 14 Feb 2024 Link
  46. ABC, interviewed by Mary Lloyd, “With the current costs of living, is private health insurance worth it?”, 14 Feb 2024 Link
  47. ABC NewsRadio, live interview with Sarah Morice, Sept 18 2023, are rebates to private health insurance wroth it
  48. ABC Far North, live interview by Charlie McKillop, Breakfast presenter, is money spent on subsidizing private health insurance worth it, Sept 6 2023
  49. SBS Mandarin, interviewed by Jason Liu (JunJie), producer of mandarin program. Sept 6 2023 Link
  50. ABC NSW Regional Drive, live interview by Anna Moulder, “asking people to pay more isn’t the answer and how private health insurance isn’t decreasing wait lists in public hospitals”. 5:10pm, Aug 29 2023 Link
  51. ABC South East NSW the Breakfast radio program, live interviewed by Lisa Markham, 7:10am Aug 29 2023
  52. ABC Radio National; also available ABC listen app; Life Matters, live interview by Hilary Harper, “Is private health cover doing its job?” 9-9:25am, Aug 29 2023 Link
  53. 2CC Talking Canberra, live interview by Leon Delaney, 4:56pm Aug 28 2023
  54. ABC Perth, live interviewed by Eddie Williams, the effects of private health insurance on waiting times in public hospitals. 9:10am Aug 28 2023
  55. SBS Mandarin, interviewed by Jason Liu (JunJie), producer of mandarin program. 7:30am Aug 27 2023 Link
  56. ABC Newcastle, live interview by Paul Turton, 10:40am. Aug 16 2023. Private health insurance
  57. The Australian, interviewed by Remy Varga, June 27 2023. ‘Costs weigh heavily as young decide to opt out of private health insurance’ Link
  58. ABC News, interviewed by Karen Tong, April 14 2023. Private health insurance premiums are going up from June 1 — should you keep it? - ABC News Link
  59. SBS News, interviewed by Isabella Lane. “Is private health insurance really worth it? What the Medibank hack means for the industry” Nov 16 2022 Link
  60. SBS, interviewed by Sneha Krishnan. “Is private health insurance worth it?” Aug 5, 2021 Link
  61. Australian Financial Review, reporter Andrew Tillett. “Big earners shun health funds despite tax slug”. July 12, 2021 Link
  62. The NewDaily, Interviewed by Euan Black, “Private health insurance: How to work out if it’s worth paying for it”. June 24, 2021 Link
  63. Medical Republic, interviewed by reporter Lydia Hales. “Is age a barrier to video consults?” Mar 29, 2021 Link
  64. News.com.au, “Why you shouldn’t cancel your private health insurance” Mar 19 2021 Link
  65. SBS Mandarin program, interviewed by Jason Liu, Producer of Mandarin Program, Dec 24 2020, The future of healthcare after COVID-19 Link
  66. SBS Mandarin program, interviewed by Jason Liu, Producer of Mandarin Program, Nov 23 2020, Changes of private health insurance in the COVID-19 pandemic Link
  67. SBS Mandarin program, interviewed by Jason Liu, Producer of Mandarin Program, Oct 29 2020, on air Nov 6 2020 Friday’s Morning time Link
  68. Expert speaker in the module of “what do experts say” in the Comparative Social Policy class, University of Melbourne, interviewed by Associate Professor Irma Mooi-Reci, October 15 2020
  69. ABC Radio Adelaide live interview, interviewed by host Jules Schiller “private health insurance premium price increase”, 6:15pm, September 29 2020, (2:19:10) Link
  70. ABC Brisbane Mornings live radio interview, interviewed by host Kate O’Toole “why private health insurance premium increase this week is not justified”, 8:50am, September 29 2020 Link
  71. The Conversation article, “Private health insurance premiums are going up this week. But the reasons why just don’t stack up”, Sept 28 2020 Link
  72. ABC Radio interview, ABC The Money program, “Australia’s decline in income inequity & reforming private health insurance”, Sept 25 2020 Link
  73. Australian Financial Review, June 11, 2020, Easing of virus lockdown lifts public mood Link
  74. Media interview, SBS mandarin program, Are Australia’s medical systems and emergency response mechanisms efficient in fighting outbreaks? June 3, 2020 Link