The Albanese government wants to scrap the age-based top-ups to the private health insurance rebate for people aged 65 and over (larger for those 70 and older), from April next year, to save $3 billion over four years for aged care. It argues that treating people differently by age is unfair. On Wednesday, the opposition, the Greens and crossbenchers joined in the Senate to knock the bill off the government's agenda, and the Greens want pensioners excluded. Health Minister Mark Butler reintroduced the bill in the House of Representatives on Thursday, but its future is unclear. Teal independent Monique Ryan, citing a Parliamentary Budget Office analysis she commissioned, says half the $3 billion would come from older Australians least able to afford it, and accuses the government of hiding the impacts: it cited 44,000 people who might drop cover, while the Health Department says the figure is closer to 80,000.
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- Michelle Grattan | Labor reintroduces health insurance rebate | Yass Tribune
The government's plan to remove the age-based rebate top-ups for people aged 65 and over with private health insurance, which would save $3 billion over four years for aged care, was blocked in the Senate by the opposition, Greens and crossbenchers. Health Minister Mark Butler reintroduced the bill in the House of Representatives on Thursday, but its future is unclear as the government negotiates with the Greens, who want pensioners excluded. The Greens argue that a billion dollars cannot be taken from 1.2 million pensioners. Teal independent Monique Ryan, citing Parliamentary Budget Office analysis, says about half the savings would come from older Australians least able to afford them, and that the Health Department estimates 80,000 people could drop their cover, not the 44,000 the government suggested, shifting costs onto public hospitals.
- Michelle Grattan | Labor reintroduces health insurance rebate | Namoi Valley Independent
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.
- 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 | Mudgee Guardian
The government's plan to remove age-based top-ups on the private health insurance rebate from April next year, saving $3 billion over four years for aged care, was knocked off the agenda in the Senate by the opposition, Greens and crossbenchers. Health Minister Mark Butler reintroduced the bill in the House on Thursday, but the Greens, under David Shoebridge, want pensioners excluded as the price of passage. Teal independent Monique Ryan says half the savings would come from the least well-off older Australians, and that the Health Department estimates 80,000 people may drop their cover, versus the 44,000 the government cited. The bill's future remains unclear as the government negotiates with the Greens, putting pressure on Treasurer Jim Chalmers's budget savings.
- Michelle Grattan | Labor reintroduces health insurance rebate | The Northern Daily Leader
The government's plan to remove age-based top-ups on the private health insurance rebate from April next year, saving $3 billion over four years for aged care, was knocked off the agenda in the Senate by the opposition, Greens and crossbenchers. Health Minister Mark Butler reintroduced the bill in the House on Thursday, but the Greens, under David Shoebridge, want pensioners excluded as the price of passage. Teal independent Monique Ryan says half the savings would come from the least well-off older Australians, and that the Health Department estimates 80,000 people may drop their cover, versus the 44,000 the government cited. The bill's future remains unclear as the government negotiates with the Greens, putting pressure on Treasurer Jim Chalmers's budget savings.
- 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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