The Australian government is changing the private health insurance rebate, extending the same benefits to those over 65 as younger Australians. Minister Butler argues the previous system was inequitable and funds will be redirected to improve aged care services.
Butler gets the chance to address another announcement he made yesterday: Australia ns over 65 will now receive the same private health insurance rebate as younger Australia ns.
He says the rebate was 'a bit of an election handout by John Howard back in 2004' that increase the rebate only for older Australians.
'It just makes no sense, in a policy sense, but also it's grossly inequitable,' he says. 'Why should two households get different levels of government support based on their age alone, when they have exactly the same income?
'… There's a very big need for more aged care services, more aged care beds, more packages, and so we decided to redivert that money from the private health insurance rebate premium, effectively that older Australians were getting into the aged care that they need so desperately. ' The 2004 election, you might recall, was fought largely on health policy, with a Mark Latham -led Labor opposition promising to provide free hospital care for every Australian over 75. You can read more about Butler's change at the link below.
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