Means testing the means test?

SENATORS from across the political spectrum are to be commended for blocking the Albanese Government's misguided bid to pull the rug out from under older Australians with private health insurance.

Health Minister Mark Butler's insistence the government will press ahead, reintroducing the Bill unamended, presents the scenario of who blinks first.

The mooted compromise is carving out pensioners. But where does that leave part-pensioners and self-funded retirees? Remember, eligibility for the rebate is means tested. So, in effect, such an amendment would be means testing the means test.

Part-pensioners and self-funded retirees on limited incomes would still pay the extra $1600 per couple next year or be forced to go public. It would be intrinsically unfair.

The higher rebate recognises that eligible pensioners, part-pensioners and self-funded retirees are on low fixed incomes, less able to cope with sharp cost changes, but they are also high users of high-end hospital services.

We implore all parties opposed to these draconian changes to hold the line. It would be unconscionable to pit older Australians on fixed, limited incomes against one another.

-ENDS-

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