Bupa Australia says rebate changes place additional pressure on millions of Australians
Wednesday 13 May 2009
Bupa Australia's Managing Director, Richard Bowden, commented today on the Federal Government's proposed changes to the private health insurance rebate and the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS), saying that they are a dark cloud above Australia's health horizon.
He said that the changes, tabled last night in the 2009 Federal Budget, have the potential to impact every single Australian person, regardless of what they earn or whether or not they have private health insurance, and said that the company is disappointed with the changes because Australians' financial choices - and the Australian health system - will be under greater pressure than ever.
The rebate and MLS changes come in the context of a raft of other budget changes that will also have potentially significant financial implications for many private health insurance customers and potential customers. "These rebate and MLS changes will place additional undue financial - and emotional - pressure on millions of Australians who value choice and access to affordable health care," Bowden said.
However, he urged customers not to panic or make rash decisions, highlighting that the changes, if passed through the Senate, won't be implemented until 1 July 2010, "So there is plenty of time for us to fully understand what the proposed changes may mean for customers and what options are available to them."
He went on to say that the proposed changes also place the currently strong and effective balance between the public and private systems under threat.
"For every Australian that chooses not to take out private health insurance, or chooses to reduce their level of cover, places extra burden on our public system - hardly a healthy outcome for anyone," Bowden said.
He pointed out that for people who rely on Australia's public health system, there may be longer wait times for elective surgery and other non-emergency health services.
"Health needs don't just go away because Treasury is spending less on them - Australians will now have to foot more of the bill, he continued.
"Our immediate focus must be on helping our customers understand the impacts of these changes to their individual needs, and helping them find ways to continue to be able to ensure they and their families have ongoing access to quality, affordable health insurance.
"We will work hard to help customers understand their cover and how they can make it work for them to best manage their health - more than ever, customers will be looking for maximum value out of their products," Bowden continued.
He concluded by saying that these changes will impact various funds differently, depending on their membership mix and size, and that as one of Australia's largest private health insurers, Bupa Australia is well positioned to work with Government and the health sector to ensure Australians continue to have choice and access to quality healthcare.