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Medibank Group marks 50 years with additional $50m mental health investment, taking total to $100m

Medibank Group

This October, Medibank Group is marking 50 years of supporting people in Australia with an additional $50 million investment in the future of mental health - bringing the total recent investment to $100 million - as it looks to the next chapter of Australia’s evolving health system. 

Since 1976, Medibank Group has supported people in Australia through some of life’s most important health moments, paying more than $200 billion in today’s dollars in benefits, supporting more than 1.2 billion claims and funding around 75 million hospital admissions and procedures.

Building upon our 50-year history as one of Australia’s leading health insurers, Medibank Group now includes our Medibank and ahm brands, and our Amplar Health portfolio, including Better Medical and Myhealth, one of Australia’s largest multidisciplinary primary care networks, together with strategic investments and joint ventures across short stay surgical and acute mental health hospitals.

Today, more than six million Australians trust Medibank Group with their health and wellbeing. Among them, over 40,000 customers have been with Medibank Group since 1976, and more than 20% of customers have held their policies for over 25 years - a testament to the enduring role Medibank has played for generations of people.

$100 million total investment in mental health over five years

To mark the 50-year milestone, the Medibank Group has today announced an additional $50 million investment over five years to invest in mental health access, prevention and innovation for customers and the broader community.

Medibank Group CEO David Koczkar said the health company has supported people in Australia through some of their most important moments over the past 50 years.

“We’re proud of the contribution we’ve made to Australia’s health system and the role we’ve played in helping people live healthier lives. As one of Australia’s largest health companies, we have an important role to play in helping shape what comes next,” Mr Koczkar said.

“We believe mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness, as almost half of us will face mental ill health at some point in our life. Mental health is fundamental to our overall health and wellbeing, but too many people still face barriers to getting the support they need.

“The rate of mental ill-health is growing at an alarming rate in Australia. Over the past decade, we have spent around $2 billion towards our customers’ mental health hospital admissions. For many people, the current system is not working and is creating more problems for our stretched health network.

“Our additional $50 million investment in mental health - bringing the total to $100 million – demonstrates our commitment to improve mental health in Australia, to help more people access support earlier and when they need it most.”

The additional investment will support initiatives including an expansion of our Virtual Psychology Clinic and new acute mental health innovation with hospitals and will also extend to a new partnership with Smiling Mind, making mental wellbeing tools more accessible to Medibank customers and the broader community.

Independent research on the evolution of Australia’s health system

New research commissioned for Medibank's 50th anniversary explores how Australia's health system, and the place of private healthcare in it, has changed over five decades.

The research estimates privately funded healthcare activity has helped ease pressure on Australia’s public hospital system, avoiding an estimated 100 million public hospital separations and around 318 million public hospital bed-days over the past 50 years. This translates to the equivalent to freeing up approximately 28,000 public hospital beds in today’s health system, helping to redirect capacity towards emergency and complex care.

The research also highlights the significant role of the private system in delivering care, with private hospitals accounting for around 40% of hospital admissions nationally and approximately 67% of elective surgery admissions.

For Medibank Group, the changing demands on the health system are reflected in how Australians are using healthcare.

The average number of health services accessed by a Medibank customer annually has more than doubled, from five services per customer in 1977 to 11.5 in 2025.

“Australia’s health needs have changed dramatically over the past 50 years,” Mr Koczkar said.

“People are living longer and managing more complex health needs, and healthcare is increasingly about prevention, ongoing support and helping people stay healthier, not simply treating illness when it occurs.”

Reflections on the past and looking to the future

In recent video interviews with Medibank, former Australian prime minister John Howard AO and current Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler reflected on the contributions of the Medibank Group to the health system in Australia.

John Howard AO, who served from 1996 to 2007, reflected on Medibank Group’s role in the evolution of Australia’s private health system. During his time in government, significant reforms were introduced to strengthen private health insurance, an achievement he has described as one of his government’s most significant legacies.

Mr Howard said Australia’s combination of public and private healthcare had helped create a strong and balanced health system.

“I think we have a happy medium. It’s neither totally private nor totally public. It’s a bit of each,” Mr Howard said.

“We need a strong public system to provide a safety net. But we also need a supplement of a private system that looks after people who are prepared to put money aside for a rainy day.”

Australia’s Minister for Health and Ageing Mark Butler said the combination of public and private healthcare remained an important part of Australia’s health system.

“Australia is fortunate to have one of the best health systems in the world and at its heart is a strong public health system that delivers world class care to Australians whenever they need it,” Mr Butler said.

“But alongside that sits a vital private health system, giving Australians more choice, supporting access to timely care, and playing a critical role in easing demand on our public hospitals.

“Our public and private health systems work together to ensure that Australians have access to treatment when they need it, where they need it.”

As Australia’s health needs have evolved, so too has Medibank Group’s role, with the company increasingly expanding its focus beyond health insurance.

Over the past decade, Medibank Group has invested almost $500 million in expanding its health capabilities across primary care, home-based care, virtual health and digital health, helping people access more connected and personalised care across different stages of their health journey.

“As we look to the next 50 years, we want to help make mental health support more accessible and ensure more people can get help earlier, when it can make the biggest difference,” Mr Koczkar said.

“We’re proud of how far Medibank Group has come, but our focus is firmly on the future and continuing to make a meaningful difference to the health and wellbeing of people in Australia.”

For further information about the historical timeline of the Medibank Group, visit History | Medibank Group.

Assets available for media use

A video news release featuring Medibank Group Medical Director Dr Shona Sundaraj, Mr John Howard AO and historical Medibank footage available HERE. 

Radio interviews featuring Mr John Howard AO, Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Ageing of Australia, Medibank CEO David Koczkar, Medibank Group Medical Director Dr Shona Sundaraj, and Medibank customer for over 40 years Chris Seers, attached and available HERE.

Medibank Group 50 years strong booklet - a visual storybook discussing the evolution of healthcare in Australia attached and available HERE.

Archival Medibank images and behind the scenes photos of Mr John Howard AO, available HERE. 

Contact details:

Medibank Group Corporate Affairs
+61 3 8622 5444
[email protected]