Private Health loss of Rebate for some

[dfcatch]

yup.the benefits of private health insurance

I cannot understand how those with high incomes ($250k joint) say they are going to opt out of private now the rebate is gone.

all very nice to have your kids privately educated.... shame if the public system misses that critical diagnosis...

The best thing for the public system - is to have as many people in private cover as possible.

Not only is it cheaper for the government, but it frees up public hospital resources as well.

 

[jukebox333]

And your choice of doctor

As much as I like my friends who are recently graduated doctors....... I would rather not be randomly assigned a med student who wishes to practice sticking their finger up my bum

Especially when you went to see him about your sore tonsils!

 

[simongr]

I cannot understand how those with high incomes ($250k joint) say they are going to opt out of private now the rebate is gone.

I expect that group to not opt out given the increase in medicare levy surcharge as well. It is more likely to be in the group with a reduced rebate where the margin is closer and things are tougher - those who are likely to be holding a higher mortgage as a % of income than very high income groups or very low income groups.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

yes, but even those with your so called smaller margin have discretionary spending, whether that be on private education or overseas holidays or a second car, or even to live in a house that is within their means.

none of the things I mention above should take preference over the health of your family. you just have to decide whether you want luxuries, or health. and to be honest, none of the luxuries are worthwhile if you have to wait two years to get treatment under the public system.

 

[dfcatch]

yes, but even those with your so called smaller margin have discretionary spending, whether that be on private education or overseas holidays or a second car, or even to live in a house that is within their means.

none of the things I mention above should take preference over the health of your family. you just have to decide whether you want luxuries, or health. and to be honest, none of the luxuries are worthwhile if you have to wait two years to get treatment under the public system.

You know what?

I fit into the above category.

Between mortgage (modest house), modest car, day to day living expenses, electricity, food, and monthly health insurance - I don't have a lot to spare.

I will have less to spare with some of my rebate being taken away.

I pay for a quite pricey policy to ensure that it provides very good coverage so I won't have to rely on the public system.

It's cheaper for the government to maintain my cover than to provide public health support to me.

I don't have "luxuries" as you stereotype to cut down on.

Well - I guess i could cancel my attendance at Bossreggie's lunch..... That would probably meet your definition of unnecessary luxury.

IMHO - getting rid of this incompetent government would free up more funds for the public system than screwing over people like me.

 

[MatF]

yes, but even those with your so called smaller margin have discretionary spending, whether that be on private education or overseas holidays or a second car, or even to live in a house that is within their means.

none of the things I mention above should take preference over the health of your family. you just have to decide whether you want luxuries, or health. and to be honest, none of the luxuries are worthwhile if you have to wait two years to get treatment under the public system.

This change isn't only going to affect those who light their cigars with rolled up $100 notes. I wouldn't say my wife and I have a lot of discretionary spending these days, and with the double whammy of no rebate and constantly increasing (above CPI) PHI premiums, there'll be a time when we simply can't afford it. Until I do the sums, I don't know if that'll be now, or at some point in the future.

I totally agree about the level of care/facilities available in public vs private (see below), and for that reason we'd want to hang onto it as long as we can. Having said that, perhaps if some more of the insane amount of tax I pay actually went into public healthcare, it may be a moot point.

I will also be advocating that people do NOT use their PHI when checking into public hospitals as you don't get any/much additional benefit and this is putting a burden on your PHI provider - all because the public system is under funded.

This is very true, and indeed it can have a negative impact.

I had the joy of a burst appendix just before Christmas, and ended up at the Wagga Base Hospital emergency department, and then into emergency surgery. I was admitted as a private patient.
We do have a very good private hospital in town (Calvary), but unfortunately it has no emergency department.

Now I don't know if anyone else here has any experience of Wagga Base, but it is seriously like stepping into a 3rd world country. The staff are generally very good (my surgeon was excellent!), but the facilities are very poor. It's little wonder that's it's finally about to be knocked down and rebuilt (hey, maybe I will get some of my tax $$ back afterall!).

When it became apparent that I was going to be there for 4 or 5 days, I asked about being transferred to Calvary. Long story short, but there seemed to be all kinds of issues with being transferred, and I firmly believe it was because I was there as a private patient (which incidentally gave me no benefits at all), and they didn't want to let me go. It was only after my wife got entirely frustrated and called the private hospital (who in turn called Wagga Base themselves), that things started to happen and I was finally transferred. Mind you, "transferred" involved my wife driving me to Calvary in our car, less than 48hrs after my surgery.

 

[drron]

Although most of my medical life has been spent in the private system I must defend those in the public system.The work done is first class.The problem often is people are strangled by the bureaucracy.
An example of mine from a few years ago-I often volunteer for extra outpatient sessions,in fact 1 hospital now has me back just to do outpatients.those few years ago though I was only allowed to see 2 new patients in a morning or afternoon as to see more would have the other staff run off their feet.I can see 10+ new patients in a day-sure a long day but when waiting lists are so long.......
Another problem is sometimes the patients themselves.It is rare for me to do a public OPD session where everyone turns up.Most give no notice thereby meaning another patient cant be given the chance to be seen.
Also a long long time ago I worked at a public hospital not far from Princess Fiona.When I arrived it had 230 beds,173 nurses,3 in Nursing Admin and 22 in General Admin.18 years later it had been reduced to 130 beds,nursing staff down to 105 but now 13 in Nursing administration and 66 in General Admin.It has only got worse since.
We almost certainly could have a much more efficient public hospital system if instead of concentrating on bed numbers concentrate on desk numbers.

 

[eastwest101]

I fully agree with drron's comments - that this wouldn't be such a big problem if we had efficient administration of the public health system, in all states we have seen the number of non-essential administration staff increasing and then number of medical and support staff whom actually provide the services decreasing. There seems to be no ability of any government to control administrative costs....

I would happily pay taxes for an efficiently run public health system. Same goes for the public education sector.

 

[wmetz]

For a couple to lose even 1 cent of rebate they would have to earn way over 3000 (gross) a week... Before claiming even 1 tax deduction they still take home over 2000 (net) a week. And u cant afford to pay a little extra.. Here a tip, drink 1 less bottle of imported wine a week, then u have enough to cover it.

 

[simongr]

For a couple to lose even 1 cent of rebate they would have to earn way over 3000 (gross) a week... Before claiming even 1 tax deduction they still take home over 2000 (net) a week. And u cant afford to pay a little extra.. Here a tip, drink 1 less bottle of imported wine a week, then u have enough to cover it.

Thanks for managing my lifestyle for me. Perhaps if you didn't drink any wine or maybe smoke you could afford to pay more tax as well - screw the rebate how you chuck in some more money as well to improve the public health sector that I am getting virtually no benefit from given I use the private sector.

It is this sort of attitude that you can spend what you like but because of what I earn you get to decide how much I spend that pushes me to look for additional ways to reduce my tax bill.

All of us are paying too much tax.

 

[straitman]

For a couple to lose even 1 cent of rebate they would have to earn way over 3000 (gross) a week... Before claiming even 1 tax deduction they still take home over 2000 (net) a week. And u cant afford to pay a little extra.. Here a tip, drink 1 less bottle of imported wine a week, then u have enough to cover it.

A very condescending and presumptuous post IMHO. :evil:

 

[Deleted member]

For a couple to lose even 1 cent of rebate they would have to earn way over 3000 (gross) a week... Before claiming even 1 tax deduction they still take home over 2000 (net) a week. And u cant afford to pay a little extra.. Here a tip, drink 1 less bottle of imported wine a week, then u have enough to cover it.

That's a very bold assumption! Who is drinking this imported wine? Why should they drink less of it? Why are they any different from someone who drinks Australian wine?
It occurs to me that people ( most not necessarily all) who earn high incomes generally have associated period of
Long study, long working hours or have made other sacrifices in life to achieve their position. Yes they drive dearer cars have larger mortgages and probably send their children to a private school. So messing with their budget is ok? An expensive car can mean an extra 30 % added to the price, this money as far as I know doesn't get used specifically for private school support or any such thing, but rather finds its way into consolidated revenue. While there is an argument that income tax in this country unfairly affects lower income earners, I am fairly confident that the indirect taxes and excise paid by the more successful and affluent in our society goes somewhere to redressing that imbalance.
A nice imported sav blanc can be had for less than $20.00 BTW.

 

[rechoboam]

For a couple to lose even 1 cent of rebate they would have to earn way over 3000 (gross) a week... Before claiming even 1 tax deduction they still take home over 2000 (net) a week. And u cant afford to pay a little extra.. Here a tip, drink 1 less bottle of imported wine a week, then u have enough to cover it.

I'm happy to be independent of the government, it's the government with its out of control spending that is desperately dependent on people like me.

Your message could apply equally to the remarks about a need for a dental scheme. Can you imagine how many people I have seen that admit to 8 stubbies a night, but can't afford a yearly visit to the dentist and end up having all their teeth out? All because apparently its solely the governments responsibility to pay for dental care.

 

[11sjw]

For a couple to lose even 1 cent of rebate they would have to earn way over 3000 (gross) a week... Before claiming even 1 tax deduction they still take home over 2000 (net) a week. And u cant afford to pay a little extra.. Here a tip, drink 1 less bottle of imported wine a week, then u have enough to cover it.

^^^^ Reads a little too much like Julia and Wayne's class warfare tactics for mine.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

^^^^ Reads a little too much like Julia and Wayne's class warfare tactics for mine.

well... you know... the majority of people voted in such a way that Julia and Wayne get to have their say in things

 

[dfcatch]

well... you know... the majority of people voted in such a way that Julia and Wayne get to have their say in things

That doesn't make it right.

(applies for all sides of politics)

 

[Sprucegoose]

For a couple to lose even 1 cent of rebate they would have to earn way over 3000 (gross) a week... Before claiming even 1 tax deduction they still take home over 2000 (net) a week. And u cant afford to pay a little extra.. Here a tip, drink 1 less bottle of imported wine a week, then u have enough to cover it.

That is hardly a lot of dough my friend. Imported wine- kiwi sav blanc, don't be so silly.


That rob oakshott will cop it in the neck at the next election I feel.

I am sick to death of this class warfare. The politics of envy.

 

[casanovawa]

Hmmm, i don't drink wine, but if i need to give up my choice of poison with the money that i actually earn to afford PHI to take my burden of the public system while still paying my medicare levy, the welfare dependent types should be compelled to give up the beers, ciggies, drugs, unhealthy diet choices (which are more likely to stick them in the public health system) etc if they are living this largesse while receiving plenty of welfare from the public trough...

I haven't read through all the comments on this thread, but i don't know the figures but I am sure there is a reasonable percentage of low and maybe even middle income earners that if you take what they pay in tax and then subtract that from welfare payments, family tax benefits and all the rest of government transfer payments they are effectively paying either zero net tax or pay a small percentage... That's the bullsh*t of the low income earners subsidising the high income earners, they get so many more welfare payments than any coughpy amount of tax they pay they are sucking of the government tit and not subsiding anything...

What really sucks is when your a decent earning single and so receive very little back in any types of government transfers, but always get hit up for every type of new tax or surcharge or levy etc, but never seem to receive any support apart maybe from this PHI rebate (mind you it kicks in at $83k for singles which isn't a "high income earner", its just over middle class income earner!!!)... So when the carbon tax comes in and the government will hand out the bribes to to the low income earners to support it, giving them even more money than they will lose, that extra money has to come from somewhere as the Government doesn't make any money itself, so it will again come from either business or high income earners...

I don't mind paying more than my fair share, but i am getting sick of how much is wasted and blown, and how much the disparity is increasing between who has to pay what....

 

[cove]

It is pretty divisive when the current Government trots out the line that couples or singles are "wealthy" at these modest income levels like they have.
I believe Bob Brown and Bob Katter have both qualified for double pensions which I would outlaw.....a State and then a Federal Government pension....how stupid are we that this is allowed??

 

[11sjw]

It is pretty divisive when the current Government trots out the line that couples or singles are "wealthy" at these modest income levels like they have.
I believe Bob Brown and Bob Katter have both qualified for double pensions which I would outlaw.....a State and then a Federal Government pension....how stupid are we that this is allowed??

How stupid are we? Well, people voted for those two.