An odd question, Jonathan J. Ariel.

>>You don’t believe that by competing in the health care market and in so doing:
a) sending a price signal to rivals when it comes to premium rises;
b) not only providing competition in an oligopolistic market but making money while doing so... etc. etc.<<

Pricing in this market is already closely managed by the government, through the Department of Health and Aging being required to approve the funds' price formulae for the following year. Furthermore, Medibank Private has had ample opportunity in the past, while in government hands, to provide a "price signal". They haven't done so.

You also fail to see the contradiction in your statement above. Reality says that the more "competitive" the pricing, the less profit will be available.

>>Money that finds its way into Consolidated Revenue and not the pockets of what could become a cartel.<<

Being involved in business purely because it makes money should never be front-and-centre in government policy. They should concentrate on those public services that the market cannot provide. The government has no legitimacy in what is a purely commercial enterprise. If they had, Coles and Woolworths would also be owned by the taxpayer.

And this is even odder.

>>Finding money for health care, unlike home or automobile insurance is not an option. When the Crown exits this industry, in due course “consolidation” will occur. Higher premiums should follow. In tandem with lower payouts on claims.<<

The government is already the major force in healthcare, using money collected from all taxpayers. "Finding money for health insurance" is very much an option for the individual. Consolidation may well occur, but is more likely to spur competition than decrease it. Which you would know, if you understood the industry.

>>How long do you think it will take the Commonwealth to exit the role of arbitrating on health insurance premium rises and outsource that task to an “independent body”.<<

The real question is, why do they need to arbitrate in the first place?

You clearly need to do more homework on how the industry actually works.