Rebate boosted to 40%: Reward for older Australians
Legislation to increase the Private Health Insurance Rebate to 40 per cent for people aged 70 years and older and from 30 per cent to 35 per cent for people aged from 65 to 69 years has passed through Parliament.
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10 February 2005
ABB011/05
Private Health Insurance will now be more affordable for older Australians with the Howard Government delivering its election commitment to increase the Private Health Insurance Rebate.
Legislation to increase the Private Health Insurance Rebate to 40 per cent for people aged 70 years and older and from 30 per cent to 35 per cent for people aged from 65 to 69 years has passed through Parliament.
This measure will help older Australians who contribute to private health insurance, making it more affordable and providing more peace of mind.
The higher rebates will be available from 1 April and is expected to help over one million older Australians keep their private health cover.
Many older Australians have contributed to private health insurance for most of their adult lives. They have contributed during their younger years while enjoying good health.
Now, when they need private health insurance cover most, it is important that premiums remain affordable.
Older people taking out private health insurance for the first time will also be eligible for the higher rebate.
Australia enjoys one of the best systems of health and hospital care in the world. The public and private sectors co-exist and complement each other, with the private hospital sector providing about half of all acute hospital procedures.
Older Australians with private health cover, along with other Australians with private health insurance, help take the pressure off our public hospital system, with 56 per cent of all surgery performed in private hospitals.
More than 9 million Australians have private health insurance.
For more information call Mr Abbott's office on ph 02 6277 7220.
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