Assessing need in a privately insured population--the MBF Preventive Health Survey

A self-administered mailed questionnaire was used to assess the health behaviours and health status of a random sample of members of the Medical Benefits Fund of Australia Limited (MBF). The data reaffirmed that the privately insured were more likely to have lower levels of major health risks and to practise better prevention than the uninsured. The survey was useful as a planning tool for MBF, confirming areas of preventive health that were already taken seriously by MBF members. Given the social advantages of these privately insured people, the results may also point to optimal health promotion and disease prevention rates expected in a population.