What do you think of the Medicare and health rebate changes?

10 Feb 2012
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The Medicare Levy Surcharge will be raised for people of all ages on higher incomes. (AAP)

The Medicare Levy Surcharge will be raised for people of all ages on higher incomes. (AAP)

The government looks likely to succeed in raising Medicare levies and reducing private health care tax rebates for people on higher incomes. Some say this will save billions of taxpayers' dollars, but others say it could mean public health institutions suffer. What do you think?

NOTE: If you have private health insurance but would drop it if these changes pass, please email us at sbsnews@sbs.com.au to participate in our story on this issue.

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Rich

Max - from perth, 10 days ago

The rich can afford their own health care, That's why they are called RICH, they can look after themselves by exploiting the poor, so we ultimately pay for them. Bastards!.

don't rob me and call it reform

Jonas - from Erskinville, 3 months ago

Another example of this unrepresentative government trying to plug holes in the buget caused by blowouts in such fiascos as their failed border protection schemes and their ongoing ramifications by persuing the old Labour policy of redistribution of wealth.

UnHealthy Myths

Sue Denim - from NSW, 3 months ago

First: the wisdom of money, as if money cannot corrupt. Second: the quantity of life is paramount, as if we may avoid death. The current Health strategy is based on these myths so is unsustainable. All this tinkering around the edges just makes it more complicated (like derivative trading). Taxing sweet drinks and tasty, fatty fast foods (similar to tobacco) would be more effective terms of national health and in reducing the long term growth in health costs.

Change To Medicare

Damir - from Mount Annan, 3 months ago

I want better Medicare for all, fairer, sustainable affordable, ALL services for free for every Australian. It is easily achieved and would close the arguments about Private Health insurance for good. All insurances , especially Medicare should be part of TAX system. Working Australians are paying TOO MUCH in personal income tax and what we get in return?Reduce PIT from 30% to 25%, increase Medicare Levy to 5% for ALL.. It is fair for low and high income earners, only requires efficient system.

More than fair

Elizabeth - from Melbourne, 3 months ago

I think this is a good new piece of legislation, in fact I believe it is being very generous; with the cut off point for private health rebates for singles at $129, 000. Individuals who are earning that much money do not need a rebate on their insurance. I would like to see this money reinvested in the public health sector, but sadly it looks like all the opposition's harping on about the importance of a surplus will mean that the government will just try to use this money to accomplish that

I don't buy into it

NB - from Sydney, 3 months ago

The only reason the Government is changing the scheme is to raise money to try to get back in surplus. There is not mention about reinvesting the saving in health, apart of the $100M+ promised to the Greens. It is a shame a so important issue as public health has fallen into the bean counting of a Government which can not control its waste.

yet again

geo - from gold coast, 3 months ago

yet again we see this government do another back-flip, this time with the help of the turn coat Oakshot. this will be yet another mess that the Libs will have to sort out when they get back in. Boy after four corners will you ever believe anything that this pm and government do again. . . .absolute trechoury all of them.

Chairwoman Gillard's masterplan

William - from Sydney, 3 months ago

Labor's solution to everything they mismanage is to raise taxes yet again to slug the hardworking middle class. What about the gross waste of the dysfuntional Medicare bulk-billing system where certain Doctors are becoming multi-millionaires by rorting claims? What about the government Supercrats on six figure salaries doing nothing all day? Clean up your wasteful spending Juliar before slugging the people once again. As usual the politicans won't be affected after their recent mega-payrise.

Health

Daniel - from Sydney, 3 months ago

I think we need to tax the rich further when it comes to Medicare

Proof in the Pudding

Drew - from Emerald, 3 months ago

Will this increase my Premiums ? I tend to think under this Govt. it will, and even as a low income earner I will be worse off. Par for the course.

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