Karen Willis – The Conversation

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May 4, 2022

A burnt‑out health workforce impacts patient care

Karen Willis, Victoria University; Jaimie-Lee Maple, Victoria University; Marie Bismark, The University of Melbourne, and Natasha Smallwood, Monash University

Burnout among health-care workers has implications for the whole workforce, and patients too.

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September 6, 2021

‘Living with COVID’ looks very different for front‑line health workers, who are already exhausted

Karen Willis, Victoria University and Natasha Smallwood, Monash University

Around 70% of front-line health workers said they were exhausted in 2020. With COVID hospitalisations expected to rise in coming weeks, the pressure is about to get a whole lot worse.

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April 29, 2020

Should I drop my private health insurance during the pandemic?

Sophie Lewis, UNSW and Karen Willis, La Trobe University

Drop, suspend, downgrade or keep? Many people are feeling the pinch and wondering if private heath insurance is worth keeping during the coronavirus pandemic. Here’s what to consider.

When you’re admitted to a public hospital, they’ll want to know if you have private health insurance. From shutterstock.com

March 17, 2019

If you’ve got private health insurance, the choice to use it in a public hospital is your own

Sophie Lewis, UNSW ; Karen Willis, La Trobe University, and Rebecca E. Olson, The University of Queensland

When you enter a public hospital, you are likely to be asked if you have private health insurance, and if you want to use it. This is what you need to consider.

Some people choose private health insurance for shorter wait times. l i g h t p o e t/Shutterstock

March 27, 2018

Do you really need private health insurance? Here’s what you need to know before deciding

Sophie Lewis, UNSW and Karen Willis, La Trobe University

Private health insurance premiums will rise from April 1, leaving consumers wondering if they should give it up or downgrade to save money.

New health minister Greg Hunt has approved a 4.8% rise in health insurance premiums. AAP/Rachel Gray

February 10, 2017

Increased private health insurance premiums don’t mean increased value

Karen Willis, Australian Catholic University and Sophie Lewis, University of Sydney

Each year private health insurance funds lobby the government to increase private health insurance premiums. They claim increases are warranted because of increasing costs.

The most common reason for choosing private hospitals is shorter waits for elective surgery. Richard Lyons/Shutterstock

March 17, 2016

Which are better, public or private hospitals?

Karen Willis, Australian Catholic University and Sophie Lewis, UNSW

Around a quarter of people with private health insurance still choose to use the public system. Why?

Consumers are often unclear about the benefits and exclusions. Justin Gaynor/Flickr

October 22, 2015

Confused about your private health insurance coverage? You’re not alone

Karen Willis, Australian Catholic University and Sophie Lewis, University of Sydney

Anyone who has purchased private health insurance or thought about changing policies knows the system is complex and confusing.

Dental care is the most-used private health insurance ancillary service. Peter Kyikos/AAP

March 29, 2015

Explainer: why do Australians have private health insurance?

Sophie Lewis, UNSW ; Karen Willis, La Trobe University, and Marika Franklin, Australian Catholic University

All Australian residents have access to Medicare, so why do half the population also decide to take out private health insurance?

Health consumers don’t necessarily use the internet to bypass their GP, they use it as an additional source of information. Flickr/Chelsea Louise

February 12, 2014

Don’t panic! Healthy consumers look online for medical advice

Sophie Lewis, University of Sydney; Karen Willis, University of Sydney, and Marika Franklin, University of Sydney

We’ve all heard the warnings against googling your symptoms in search of a diagnosis: you’ll uncover a range of daunting illnesses and launch into panic-mode over something like a measly cold. There is…

Some registered professions are being excluded from rebates for services they can provide. Image from shutterstock.com

January 6, 2014

Private health insurance rebates restrict consumer choice

Karen Willis, University of Sydney; Lynette Mackenzie, University of Sydney, and Michelle Lincoln, University of Sydney

The pre-Christmas announcement that private health insurance premiums will rise by an average of 6.2% in 2014 has raised concerns about affordability. But while consumers aren’t expected to drop their…

There’s a gap between what people with private health insurance think they’re paying for and what they’re getting. mvcaf/Flickr

February 7, 2013

Private health insurance and the illusion of choice

Karen Willis, University of Sydney and Kirsten Harley, University of Sydney

The number of people with health insurance plummeted in the 1990s, but almost half the Australian population now has private hospital insurance and over half have ancillary or extras cover. But our research…

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