With the percentage of Australians between the ages of 20 to 39 with private health insurance falling from 40% to 34% over the past five years, and older Australians claiming more than ever, Private Healthcare Australia (PHA) has demanded the private health insurance rebate to be restored to 30% once the federal Budget has returned to surplus. PHA has also urged the federal government to increase the Medicare levy surcharge for high-income earners who do not have private health insurance:
“Subsidies for private health insurance-funded services cost the commonwealth budget around 30c in the dollar. The alternative, providing more services in public hospitals, costs the commonwealth budget 45c in the dollar.”
PHA’s call for a full restoration of the 30 per cent rebate is an advance on its previous position of wanting the rebate to be restored for those aged under 40…
