Is it time to ditch the private health insurance rebate? It's a question Labor can't ignore

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OPINION: Is it time to ditch the private health insurance rebate? It's a question Labor can't ignore

— in effect, kicking the policy can two years down the road.

Whichever party wins the election, it ought to revisit our nation's history with failing industries. Over recent decades we have learnt that propping up industries in the face of consumers turning away from their products is not a long-term proposition. Private health insurance is no car industry, but it's not a sunrise industry either. Yet it receives a greater subsidy than manufacturing at itsThe government has to decide why it's subsidising the private health care industry. If it decides it doesn't want to in future, it needs a carefully managed transition.

Even if private care is seen primarily as a substitute for the public sector — and a way to take some demand off — subsidies for private care may be counter-productive.harder for public hospitals to attract staffAustralians feel pressured to take out private health insurance because of the sticks, but the product is only sustainable with its current level of coverage because of the carrots: the hefty public subsidies.of around one-third of the population.

The incoming government should look at the effectiveness and efficiency of the carrots and sticks, whether consumers and taxpayers get value for money from private health insurance, and how to address rising out-of-pocket costs.

 

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Private health companies? You mean those bastards who take our money but are loathe to hand it back? All the while making profits...

A good article on a complex and thorny issue by stephenjduckett I always though Howard bullying people into private health insurance was wrong. And hypocritical from a free market ideology government.

. Good article. Actually highligjts political thought and challenges of parties, not just stoking left v right flames. Nice.

Rich don't get any rebate but it might bring down health insurance because it is crazy expensive

IF Labor make a statement to abolish the rebate in total, they will seal their fate to remain in opposition. IF they scale it back by a percentage over time, it maybe more acceptable. Take to it with an axe Shortenator, at your peril.

It’s time to have an enquiring into the health sector.

Yes but better still, properly fund public health so that people aren't frightened into private health insurance - shoddy, expensive, second-rate product that it is.

It's time to ditch private health everything.

Um the LNP are in government

Labor are not in power. How about you find the guts to ask the government?

Just like no funding for private schools, no funding for private health. Give it all to public schools and Medicare. And simplify it all.

I would welcome a review. The private health system is badly broken: pay more - get less - THEN pay the gap. Crazy. Greg Hunt did NOTHING to even look at structural change.

No. It's about the only rebate that works, tho it hasn't lately; surgeon's wages soaring- may be due to Govt's trap of 'cont cover'

we have to ban those with priv health from Medicare coverage Let d health insurance to cover 100% of med bills

Yes, the government should stop subsidies for health fund executives to have a great laugh at taxpayers’ expense, also the blackmail via Medicare levy is a rort. Boost public health funding auspol

No worries - get the $90 BILLION from Big Mining and its LNP mates.

Every year my Private cover payment is increased my but what I get back on Claims is pitiful 😡😡

Sure as long as you ditch the medicare surcharge even though you pay private.

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