Laya Healthcare customers face hikes in premiums of up to 13%

Customers of Laya Healthcare face premium hikes of up to 13% from Jan 1 next year, the private health insurer announced yesterday.

Laya, with approximately 400,000 customers, blamed the hikes on the “significant increase in the number of people making claims and the escalating cost of providing medical treatment”, particularly in orthopaedics, oncology and cardiac care.

The hike comes at a time when the number of people canceling private health insurance policies continues apace. In June this year, 61,000 fewer people were insured than in Jun 2011.