Insurers accused of 'playing people for mugs'

Australians are paying about $46 more per hospital visit than a year earlier, data shows. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

Health insurers are spending more but leaving Australians with higher out-of-pocket expenses, sparking scorn from private hospitals.

A record $12.3 billion was dished out by private health insurers in the year to March, according to official data released on Friday.