Fed: Taxpayers forking out more without rebate - research

AAP General News (Australia)
02-04-2004
Fed: Taxpayers forking out more without rebate - research

By Sandra O'Malley

CANBERRA, Feb 4 AAP - Taxpayers would have to fork out more to fund the public health
system if the $2.3 billion private health insurance rebate was abolished, new research
showed today.

Research commissioned by Australia's biggest health fund Medibank Private, showed the
federal government was saving $2 on health for every $1 it spent on the rebate.

The Howard government is committed to the 30 per cent rebate, which it introduced in
1999 to help stem declining levels of private health insurance.

Along …