Private health package this year: govt

Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt hopes to secure a private health insurance affordability package by the end of this year.

Mr Hunt warned without reform, the take-up of private health insurance could drop, putting pressure on private hospitals and in turn the public sector.

He has been in talks to bring down costs with Australian and international device or implant firms, as well as private health insurers, who have all argued their cases hard.

"I think we are extremely close to genuine agreements that will reduce the pressure on the ... devices, but overall on the viability of private health insurance," Mr Hunt told Sky News on Sunday.

A cut in the cost of implants would also reduce overall government outlays, he added.