The Turnbull government has ordered private health insurers to justify their planned premium increases in an effort to secure a better deal for consumers.

In what's being billed as an unprecedented intervention in the normal regulatory process, Health Minister Sussan Ley has written to all private insurers asking for "additional information" regarding possible premium increases this year.

Health Minister Sussan Ley says sporting organisations could lose government funding if they fail to provide gender-neutral travel arrangements. Credit:Andrew Meares

"I have held increasing concerns the current process used to assess and approve premium increases does not allow government a rigorous assessment of an insurer's full financial position," Ms Ley said in a statement on Saturday.

The federal government holds a significant stake in the private health sector by providing about $6 billion in rebates every year, Ms Ley says.