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.
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- 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 | Blayney Chronicle
The government's plan to scrap the age-based top-ups to the private health insurance rebate, which would save $3 billion over four years, is again in trouble. The measure, due from April next year, would remove the larger rebates for people 65 and over and 70 and over, with the savings directed to aged care. The Senate voted on Wednesday to block the bill, and the Greens want pensioners exempted as the price of passage. Health Minister Mark Butler reintroduced it in the House of Representatives on Thursday, and its fate depends on talks with the Greens. Critics such as Monique Ryan, citing Parliamentary Budget Office analysis, argue the Health Department puts the number of people likely to drop cover at closer to 80,000, compared with the 44,000 the government has cited, shifting costs to public hospitals.
- Michelle Grattan | Labor reintroduces health insurance rebate | The Advocate
Health Minister Mark Butler reintroduced the bill to remove the age-based top-ups on private health insurance rebates for people 65 and over, a measure the government says would save $3 billion over four years for aged care. After the opposition, Greens and crossbenchers voted it off the agenda in the Senate, the Greens want pensioners exempted as the price of passage. Independent Monique Ryan said Parliamentary Budget Office analysis showed half the savings would come from older Australians least able to afford them, and that the government had claimed 44,000 people might drop their cover, while the Health Department estimates the figure is closer to 80,000. Michelle Grattan notes the fight adds pressure on Treasurer Jim Chalmers as unemployment hit 4.7 per cent in September, a five-year high.
- Michelle Grattan | Labor reintroduces health insurance rebate | Narromine News
Health Minister Mark Butler reintroduced the bill to remove the age-based top-ups on private health insurance rebates for people 65 and over, a measure the government says would save $3 billion over four years for aged care. After the opposition, Greens and crossbenchers voted it off the agenda in the Senate, the Greens want pensioners exempted as the price of passage. Independent Monique Ryan said Parliamentary Budget Office analysis showed half the savings would come from older Australians least able to afford them, and that the government had claimed 44,000 people might drop their cover, while the Health Department estimates the figure is closer to 80,000. Michelle Grattan notes the fight adds pressure on Treasurer Jim Chalmers as unemployment hit 4.7 per cent in September, a five-year high.
- 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 | Camden Haven Courier
The government wants to remove the age-based top-ups to the private health insurance rebate from April next year, a measure it says would save $3 billion over four years and fund aged care. The opposition, the Greens and crossbench senators joined forces in the Senate to knock the bill off the agenda, and the Greens want pensioners excluded from it. Health Minister Mark Butler reintroduced the bill in the House of Representatives on Thursday, but its future is unclear and negotiations with the Greens are expected in the coming weeks. Teal independent Monique Ryan, citing a Parliamentary Budget Office analysis she commissioned, says half the savings would come from the older Australians least able to afford them, and the Health Department estimates closer to 80,000 people could drop their cover, compared with the 44,000 the government cited. The pressure also weighs on Treasurer Jim Chalmers, as unemployment reached 4.7% in September, a five-year high.
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