Rebate
and Private Health Insurance.
Legislation to Means-Test 30%
Rebate passed through Lower House
15/02/12
Unfortunately,
the legislation to means-test the rebate passed through
the lower house today and now an uncertain period lies ahead
for Australia’s health system.
The
passage of the means-testing legislation through the Lower
House signals a shift in the balance of Australian healthcare.
The
consequence of the Gillard Government’s decision to means-test
the 30% Rebate is that Australians needing healthcare will
be torn between increasing costs and longer waiting lists.
Private
Healthcare Australia has consistently cautioned that means-testing
the 30% Rebate will force people out of the private healthcare
sector and into the public system, and it will force premiums
up for those who remain in private cover.
To
find out more and view our media release, click
here>>>
I
agree that The consequence of the Gillard Government’s
decision to means-test the 30% Rebate is that Australians
needing healthcare will be torn between increasing costs and
longer waiting lists. The system cannot cope now!
And
I cannot see how many people, particularly pensioners are
going to be able to afford private health. Then again can
they afford to drop out? Just imagine the stress and strain
it is going to put on our old people! Premiums are set to
rise again soon before this legislation passed.
Private
Healthcare Australia has consistently cautioned that means-testing
the 30% Rebate will force people out of the private healthcare
sector and into the public system, and it will force premiums
up for those who remain in private cover.
I
agree with Private Healthcare Australia that the Government
has made many incorrect assumptions during this debate, like
failing to consider the impact of people downgrading their
private health cover, and not taking into account the flow
on effects into the public hospital system of those people
who drop and downgrade their cover.
I feel it is a sad day.
Editor
Doctors4U®
OLDER
DRIVERS
Recently
there have been a lot of accidents involving older drivers.
As a result this has there has been much publicity and raised
the subject of driver testing for older drivers.
What we forget is that a large number of older drivers got
their licences many years ago, long before automatic vehicles.
And they have had no instructions on driving an automatic.
Subsequently many brake with their left foot, not knowing
any better.
This
is why many get into trouble. Recently there have been 2 cases
that I know of where both older drivers claimed their foot
had got stuck! Why? Obviously braking with their left!
How
many times have you followed a car and seen the brake lights
coming on and off while the car is still accelerating? Obviously
driving with their left foot on the brake! Also a no no!
My personal experience. I was in Southport recently and as
I was crossing in front of a parked car I could hear the engine
roaring loudly. I went to the driver's door to see what the
problem was. The driver, an older gentleman, wound his widow
down and said, "my foot has got stuck." I looked
and could see he had his left foot on the brake and his right
on the accelorator. I explained to him what he was doing was
causing the problem and that one SHOULD
NEVER, EVER BRAKE WITH THEIR LEFT FOOT.
SO PLEASE - OLDER DRIVER OR NOT.
IN AN AUTOMATIC VEHICLE NEVER EVER BRAKE WITH YOUR LEFT FOOT!
Many older drivers are good safe drivers having been on the
road for many years. They drive defensively and look well
ahead. They anticipate and are always on the lookout for the
unexpected. No mobile phones, texting or the like while driving.
My
Dad lived to 99 and drove till he was 98 and was still just
so alert. I remember when he was a passenger with me, he was
always still alert, and never missed a thing. Years of experience
helped him as a driver. And he never failed to surprise me
as to what he did see and notice of other drivers.
And remember, please, no talking
on mobiles or texting whilst driving. Talking on
a mobile while driving is as bad as driving under the influence.
I
have mentioned this here because I feel if it helps one person
to drive better and safer, and be less likely to cause an
accident, it has served its purpose.
Remember, the life you save maybe your own!
Thank you for reading and understanding.
Editor.
Ex -Police Traffic Sergeant.
December
2011.
Back
to home
June
24, 2011
Save
Your Rebate Campaign
Are
you aware your Private Health Insurance Rebate is under threat?
In the 2011 Budget the government confirmed it
is pushing ahead with the 2009 Budget measure to means-test
the 30% Rebate on Private Health Insurance.
The
proposed policy change introduces three ‘Private Health
Insurance Incentive Tiers’ based on income thresholds.
For low and middle-income earners, the existing 30% Rebate
will remain in place, however singles earning over $80,000
or couples earning over $160,000 will receive a lower rebate
if they choose to hold private health cover, but will face
a higher surcharge if they choose not to hold private health
cover, as a result of the increase in the Medicare Levy Surcharge.
You
may be aware that the AHIA recently released the Deloitte
Report into the economic impact of the Gillard Government’s
plan to means-test the 30% Rebate.
According
to the Government, the means-testing is meant to target the
well-off but the Deloitte Report shows that as health fund
members drop or downgrade their cover, health insurance will
become more expensive for everyone.
The
AHIA has developed a simple rebate calculator to find out
what your current private health insurance rebate is worth
and how much you may have to pay if the rebate is means-tested.
The
AHIA, on behalf of its members, is actively lobbying the government
to help keep the 30% Rebate. If you are concerned about the
effect means-testing the 30% Rebate will have on our health
system you can support the campaign by signing our online
Save Your Rebate petition calling on your Federal Member of
Parliament to reject the means-test.
Click
here to sign the petition
The
following is very important! Please read and if tempted to
order
on line I respectfully suggest you think again!
Many of these people have been sending out Spam in our name
to try and give themselves credibility.
Even though this is an American Article
it is applicable to
all Australians!
The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) said
it now lists more than 5,000 Internet drug outlets as Not
Recommended. These sites have been found to be out of compliance
with pharmacy laws established in the United States to protect
public health.
"There
is a common misconception that prescription medications purchased
from any Web site calling itself a pharmacy are safe,"
says NABP President Gary A. Schnabel, RN, RPh.
"Patients
have grown to trust prescription medications in the US because
the manufacturing and supply systems are tightly regulated
to ensure safety. What many patients fail to realize, however,
is that when buying medications from unknown sources online,
those safeguards vanish, and the odds of getting counterfeit
or substandard medication rise substantially."
Of
the 5,008 sites listed as Not Recommended:
*More
than 75% (4,029) dispense drugs without a valid prescription.
*More
than half (2,762) accept a brief online questionnaire in place
of a prescription. To be valid, and to ensure patient safety,
a prescription must be based on a legitimate patient-practitioner
relationship that has included a face-to-face physical examination.
*Nearly
25% (1,327) post a physical address located outside the US.
*Nearly
half (2,436) do not provide any physical address. According
to the World Health Organization, more than 50% of medicines
purchased over the Internet from sites that conceal their
physical address are counterfeit.
*Nearly
20% (956) do not have secure sites that protect patients'
personal and financial information.
We
thank Security ProNews
for this report.
Manager
Doctors4U®
Any
comments posted here are not necessarily the express view
of Doctors4U®
*The
words" Australia's own", where ever appearing
in any of our directories means, Doctors4U Medical Directories
designed by Australians for Internet reference only.
