Dear resident,
The Albanese Labor Government is stripping back the private health insurance rebate for seniors over the age of 65: hitting self-funded retirees with a sneaky health tax to plug its own budget deficit.
What is happening: From 1 April 2027, the age-based rebate uplift will be completely abolished for all Australians aged 65 and over: slashing the rebate for those aged 65 to 69 from 28.1 per cent to 24.1 per cent, and cutting the rebate for those aged 70 and over from 32.2 per cent to 24.1 per cent.
Who is affected: Hundreds of thousands of self-funded retirees who worked hard, saved, and planned their retirement on the promise of stable health rules. These are older Australians who sit just above the pension threshold, yet are still living on modest, fixed incomes.
Why it is a betrayal: Changing the rules now is a complete insult. It forces older Australians to play a game of economic Monopoly where the rules are rewritten at halftime simply because the banker ran out of money. It delivers a massive blow to household budgets, forcing comprehensive Gold-tier couples to find up to $1,614 more a year; singles will face increases of up to $807 a year. For seniors who view health security as a necessity, this is a financial hike on their health funds, penalising those who tried to be self-reliant.
Why it hurts everyone: If seniors are forced to drop their private cover, it will immediately push immense pressure onto our already struggling public hospitals and elective surgery waitlists across Queensland.
How you can help: As your Federal Member for Dawson, I am fighting to stop this unfair raid on retirement. Please complete this brief survey to help me take our community's voice directly to the floor of Parliament.
