The government's plan to scrap the age-based top-ups on the private health insurance rebate for people 65 and over, due from April next year, has become a central political battle. On Wednesday, the opposition, Greens and crossbenchers joined to block the bill in the Senate, and on Thursday Health Minister Mark Butler reintroduced it in the House of Representatives, though its future was unclear when parliament broke. The government says the measure will save $3 billion over four years and put the money into aged care, arguing it is fairer to treat people equally regardless of age. The Greens want pensioners removed from the bill as the price of passage, while Teal independent Monique Ryan cites a Parliamentary Budget Office analysis showing half the savings would come from older Australians least able to afford them. Ryan also says the Health Department estimates around 80,000 people may drop their cover, compared with the 44,000 the government claimed, which would shift costs to public hospitals.
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- Michelle Grattan | Labor reintroduces health insurance rebate | The Advertiser - Cessnock
The government wants to remove the higher private health insurance rebate paid to people aged 65 and over (larger again from 70) from April next year, saving $3 billion over four years to put into aged care. On Wednesday, the opposition, Greens and crossbenchers joined in the Senate to knock the bill off the government's agenda, with the Greens demanding pensioners be excluded. Health Minister Mark Butler reintroduced the bill in the House of Representatives on Thursday, but its future remains unclear. Teal independent Monique Ryan, citing a Parliamentary Budget Office analysis, says half the savings would come from older Australians least able to afford them. She also says the Health Department puts the number of people who might drop cover at about 80,000, versus the government's 44,000.
- Michelle Grattan | Labor reintroduces health insurance rebate | Southern Highland News
On Wednesday, the Senate, with the opposition, Greens and crossbenchers, knocked off the government's bill to remove age-based top-ups to the private health insurance rebate for people 65 and over, a measure expected to save $3 billion over four years. Health Minister Mark Butler reintroduced the bill in the House of Representatives on Thursday, but its future is unclear as the Greens, led by David Shoebridge, demand pensioners be excluded, saying a billion dollars should not be taken from 1.2 million pensioners. Independent Monique Ryan cites Parliamentary Budget Office analysis that older Australians would bear half the savings, and accuses the government of hiding impacts, noting it claimed 44,000 older Australians might drop cover while the Health Department says the figure is closer to 80,000. The article says the dispute adds pressure on Treasurer Jim Chalmers ahead of the mid-year update due in December, as unemployment hit 4.7 per cent in September, a five-year high.
- Michelle Grattan | Labor reintroduces health insurance rebate | The North West Star
The Australian government wants to scrap the higher private health insurance rebate for people aged 65 and over from April next year, aiming to save $3 billion over four years for aged care. The Senate rejected the bill on Wednesday, with the opposition, Greens and crossbenchers joining forces, and Health Minister Mark Butler reintroduced it in the House of Representatives on Thursday. The Greens want pensioners excluded as the price of passage, while Teal independent Monique Ryan cited a Parliamentary Budget Office analysis showing half the savings would come from older Australians least able to afford them. The government said 44,000 older people might drop their cover, but Ryan says the Health Department puts the figure closer to 80,000.
- Michelle Grattan | Labor reintroduces health insurance rebate | Wellington Times
The Albanese government proposes removing age-based top-ups to the health insurance rebate for people aged 65 and over, starting from April next year, to save $3 billion over four years for aged care. The Senate voted to take the bill off the agenda after the opposition, Greens and crossbenchers opposed it, and the Greens want pensioners excluded as the price of passage. Health Minister Mark Butler reintroduced the bill in the House of Representatives, but its future remains unclear as the government negotiates with the Greens. Independent MP Monique Ryan, citing a Parliamentary Budget Office analysis, argues that half the savings would come from older Australians least able to afford them. She says the Health Department estimates nearly 80,000 people may drop their cover, well above the 44,000 the government cited.
- Michelle Grattan | Labor reintroduces health insurance rebate | Bendigo Advertiser
The Albanese government's plan to remove age-based top-ups on private health insurance rebates for people aged 65 and over, from April next year, would save $3 billion over four years for aged care. After the opposition, Greens and crossbenchers blocked the bill in the Senate on Wednesday, Health Minister Mark Butler reintroduced it in the House of Representatives on Thursday, but its future is unclear as the Greens want pensioners exempted. Monique Ryan cited a Parliamentary Budget Office analysis she commissioned, which found half the savings would come from older Australians least able to afford them, and accused the government of hiding the impact: it claimed 44,000 older people might drop cover, while the Health Department says the figure is closer to 80,000. The row adds pressure on Treasurer Jim Chalmers as unemployment hit 4.7% in September, a five-year high, ahead of the mid-year budget update due in December.
- Michelle Grattan | Labor reintroduces health insurance rebate | The Area News
The Albanese government's plan to remove age-based top-ups on private health insurance rebates for people aged 65 and over, from April next year, would save $3 billion over four years for aged care. After the opposition, Greens and crossbenchers blocked the bill in the Senate on Wednesday, Health Minister Mark Butler reintroduced it in the House of Representatives on Thursday, but its future is unclear as the Greens want pensioners exempted. Monique Ryan cited a Parliamentary Budget Office analysis she commissioned, which found half the savings would come from older Australians least able to afford them, and accused the government of hiding the impact: it claimed 44,000 older people might drop cover, while the Health Department says the figure is closer to 80,000. The row adds pressure on Treasurer Jim Chalmers as unemployment hit 4.7% in September, a five-year high, ahead of the mid-year budget update due in December.
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