Ending private health rebate for Australians 65 and over is ‘good policy change’, report co-author finds
Summary
The Australian government plans to remove the higher private health insurance rebate for people aged 65 and over starting in April 2027. Researchers say this change will save money without putting much extra pressure on public hospitals.Key Facts
- People aged 65 and older currently get a bigger rebate on private health insurance than younger people.
- After the change, rebates will depend only on income, no matter the person’s age.
- Researchers studied tax data from about 130,000 Australians to understand the effects.
- They found that fewer than 0.5% of older people will drop their private health insurance due to the change.
- The government could save between $730 million and $940 million a year by 2028-29.
- The health minister said the money saved will go toward aged care services.
- Experts agree the change is fair and should not cause a big increase in public hospital visits.
- Most people who drop private insurance will be those with the lowest incomes.
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