States fume over Commonwealth's proposed private health insurance rebate changes
Australian state and territory health ministers are opposing a federal government plan to reduce private health insurance rebates for citizens aged 65 and older. The government intends to redirect the $3 billion in savings toward the aged care sector.
Why it matters
The policy shift creates a conflict between federal budget priorities and state-level concerns regarding public hospital strain and cost-of-living pressures.
Health ministers are meeting in Sydney armed with a list of concerns. ( ABC News: Keane Bourke )
Some states are calling on the Commonwealth to ditch its proposal to cut the extra private health insurance rebate for Australians aged 65 and over.
States and territories have also launched a coordinated attack after new figures showing more than 3,700 aged care patients are stranded in public hospitals.
The federal government is pushing ahead with its private health insurance changes, banking $3 billion to be spent elsewhere in the aged care system.
Link copied Share Share article The federal government has vowed to push ahead with its controversial private health insurance rebate changes despite some states demanding the plan be ditched over fears it will worsen the strain on public hospitals.
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