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Debate: does the private health insurance rebate relieve pressure on public hospitals?

Debate: does the private health insurance rebate relieve pressure on public hospitals?

As the Government once again prepares legislation to means test the 30 per cent private health insurance rebate—see this recent Flagpost for background—arguments over whether the rebate eases pressure on public hospitals, or exacerbates it, are likely to re-emerge. Because the rebate subsidises the purchase of private health insurance, which can be used to meet the cost of private hospital services, the private health insurance industry and others argue that it keeps pressure off public hospital services. They warn that means testing the rebate will encourage people to drop their private cover and then turn to the over-stretched public hospital system when they require medical treatment. The... Read more...

Posted 01/06/2011 by Amanda Biggs

FlagPost

Flagpost is a blog on current issues of interest to members of the Australian Parliament

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