Government proposals to apply a means test to private health insurance subsidies have re-ignited the debate about the role of private insurance, write John Menadue and Ian McAuley.
Private health insurance
PHI: costs for public, private the same, so they should compete for funds
Once casemix is considered, there is no evidence of significant cost differences between private and public hospitals, writes Ian McAuley, lecturer in public sector finance at the University of Canberra.
Means testing the private health rebate
Should the cross-benchers support means testing of the private health insurance rebate? Amanda Biggs analyses the proposal and the impact of the rebate on hospitals.
Beyond the private health insurance spin
The private health insurance industry argues in a new study that insurance subsidies for the rich benefit the health system overall, writes health policy analyst Jennifer Doggett.
Picking on disability support, a favourite past time of policymakers
The Disability Support Pension is a perennial target of reforming politicians. Perhaps they should turn their attention to other forms of welfare.
Why Independents should support means testing private health insurance rebate
Consumers should welcome health minister Nicola Roxon’s announcement that she will reintroduce legislation to means test the private health insurance (PHI) rebate, writes health policy consultant Jennifer Doggett.
Private health insurance: the leech sucking on our sick blood
Private health care is an evil publicly funded roach that feasts on people’s middle-of-the-night fears and if we had any guts we would crush it beneath our heels, says Shakira Hussein, as she reveals why she just bought it anyway.
Election year politics of health reform
The first shots have been fired in what will be an extended battle over health care in this election year, writes Dr Tom Keating, and the policy differences between the major parties coming are substantial.
Prospects for health reform just got worse
The prospects for health reform in the near future just reduced considerably with the Senate’s rejection of the legislation to reduce the private health insurance (PHI) rebates for high income earners, writes Robert Wells.
Senate rebate vote a blow to cost-effective health policy
Private health insurance is one of the most inefficient and expensive mechanisms for paying for health care. It’s time to pension it off, writes health policy analyst Jennifer Doggett.
Coalition in dangerous territory as health bill stalls
Means-testing of private health insurance rebates has been rejected by the Senate, blowing a A$1.9 billion hole in the budget and serving as a potential trigger for double dissolution.
Menadue: five health reforms we really need
There are five critical issues that should be addressed by National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission.
What the private health insurance industry’s fear campaign is really about
The Rudd Government is actually increasing the incentives for high income earners to hold private insurance, writes Ian McAuley.
Australia’s wasteful, unfair private health insurance rebate
Reports today that Treasury has repeatedly told the Rudd Government that the Private Health Insurance (PHI) rebate is inefficient is hardly surprising news, writes Dr Tim Woodruff.
Summit’s health briefing paper next to useless
The background paper intended to guide health discussions at the 2020 Summit is now available here, and the news is not encouraging, writes Melissa Sweet.
US08: Hillary in trouble, Hillarita would’ve romped it in
Last night’s debate had been spoken of as Hillary Clinton’s last chance. She had to win it hands-down, and drop a safe on Obama’s head to really have a chance, writes Guy Rundle.
Roxon gets the health premium headlines that matter
Nicola Roxon got the headlines she wanted on private health insurance premiums, but the reality is a little different, writes Bernard Keane.
Health reform commission faces same old challenges
The Government’s National Health and Hospital Reform Commission has a bit to do between now and mid-2009, writes Bernard Keane.
Health commission forgets just one minor detail: the patient
Already eight years into a new century, we’re still stuck with a health system trapped in the bowels of the last century, if not the one before, writes Melissa Sweet.
Public awards for private gain?
It was with some surprise that I saw the public face of the private health insurance industry Russell Schneider’s name among the recipients of Australia Day honours, writes Melissa Sweet.
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Crikey’s Therese Rein editorial … Ray Williams … Corey Delaney, Party Liaison … John Howard … Qantas maintenance problems … organ donation … climbing Everest …
Time to reassess the health care rebate
It’s weird for governments to subsidise queue-jumping, particularly when they are being criticised for under-resourcing areas where there is great need – such as indigenous health and emergency wards, writes Ian McAuley.
The Abbott plan puts politics before health
It’s very kind of the media to allow Minister Tony Abbott to keep the election focus on the perennial problems of public hospitals. This not only gives him an easy shot at the states, but also helps distract public attention from areas where the health buck stops firmly at his government’s feet.
Throwing a surgical implement into health insurance profiteering
In quick order and amidst plenty of self-interest, the majority of Australia’s private health insurance industry is being taken out of the hands of state and mutual ownership and being sold to the capitalists in stove-pipe hats and puffing the fat cigars.
