Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2025C00097:section:5:p26
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2025C00097
Segment Type: section
Provision Reference: s 5 (pt 26/56)
Character Range: 148640–151363

concerns; and
 (c) specifying the period within which the Minister requires the insurer's response.
 (2) The private health insurer must respond within the specified period, or any longer period that the Minister, in writing before the end of the specified period, allows.
 (3) If the Minister refuses a request by the private health insurer for a longer period to respond, the Minister must state the Minister's reasons for refusing.
Note: Refusals of requests for longer periods to respond are reviewable under Part 6‑9.

191‑5  Minister must respond to insurer's explanation
  The Minister must, after receiving an explanation from a private health insurer in response, inform the insurer in writing:
 (a) whether the Minister is or is not satisfied with the explanation; and
 (b) if the Minister is not satisfied with the explanation—what steps the Minister intends to take.

Division 194—Investigation of private health insurer's operations

194‑1A  Purposes for which powers may be exercised etc.
 (1) The powers in this Division may only be exercised for the purposes of this Act.
 (2) The powers in this Division cannot be exercised for the purposes of this Act, as it applies in relation to:
 (a) levy imposed under the Private Health Insurance (Risk Equalisation Levy) Act 2003; or
 (b) the Risk Equalisation Special Account.

194‑1  Minister may investigate a private health insurer
  The Minister may, at any time and for any reason, begin an investigation of the operations of a private health insurer by doing either or both of the following:
 (a) giving a notice under any one or more sections of this Division;
 (b) authorising a person under section 194‑25.

194‑5  Notice to give information
 (1) The Minister may give a written notice to a person who is or who has been an *officer, employee or agent of:
 (a) a private health insurer; or
 (b) an entity that was a private health insurer at any time in the year ending on the day on which the notice is given;
requiring the person to give the Minister or the person specified in the notice, within the period specified in the notice, information about the area of the insurer's operations specified in the notice.
 (2) The Minister may require the person to give the information orally or in writing.
 (3) The Minister may require the person to give the information on oath or affirmation. For that purpose, the Minister or the person specified in the notice may administer an oath or affirmation.
 (4) The person is not excused from giving information on the ground that giving the information might tend to incriminate the person or make the person liable to a penalty. However, the information, or anything obtained as a direct or indirect consequence