Curtin opposes changes to the private health insurance rebate
Thursday, 25 August 2011
3,279 HBF members who live in the Curtin electorate have signed a HBF petition calling on the Labor Government to retain the private health insurance rebate in full, in its current form.A significant number of local residents in the Curtin electorate have private health insurance and Labor’s proposal to means test the 30 per cent rebate on private health insurance will add to rising cost of living pressures.
HBF Managing Director Rob Bransby yesterday presented Federal Member for Curtin Julie Bishop and Liberal Western Australian Members and Senators in Canberra with a petition of around 35,000 signatures against means testing private health insurance.
Ms Bishop said she was concerned Labor’s cuts to the private health insurance rebate would force people to drop health insurance cover, or choose cheaper cover with more procedures excluded. That would force more people into our already overstretched public hospital system.
“Western Australia has one of the highest rates of health insurance in the country. In Curtin, 82.4 per cent of voters have private health insurance and will be affected by Labor’s proposed changes to the private health insurance rebate,” Ms Bishop said.
“HBF has been one of the strongest opponents to the proposed changes to the private health insurance rebate and has spent just over four weeks collecting signatures from almost 35,000 members opposed to the proposed changes.
“People should be encouraged to take responsibility for their own health care and take out private health insurance and should not be penalised for doing so.
“Australians should have access to affordable healthcare and a real choice in managing their healthcare needs and the Liberal Party opposes Labor’s attack on Curtin residents who have private health insurance.”
As a result of the introduction of the private health insurance rebates, the Medicare Levy Surcharge and Lifetime Health Cover under the former Howard Government, private health insurance coverage increased significantly from 34 per cent in 1996 to over 44 per cent by 2007.
