The Australian Greens today called for the government to split its private health reforms so that bills to means test the private health insurance rebate and the Medicare levy surcharge could be voted on independently.
“One of the key goals of health policy is to deliver healthcare to those who most need it at the lowest possible cost,” said Greens’ health spokesperson Dr Richard Di Natale.
“Forcing people into private health insurance through taxpayer subsidies doesn’t just advantage people on higher incomes it makes healthcare more expensive overall.
“This is especially true for dental care where taxpayer subsidies mean that people without private insurance are paying for dental treatment for those who do.
“The health Minister now seems to be saying that people on higher incomes are a burden on Medicare and have no right to access the public system.
“Medicare is based on the principle that health cover should be universal and it gives everyone access to good healthcare regardless of income. Those who earn more, pay more for it through their taxes.
“We know that the opposition have never supported Medicare but Labor now seems to be backing away from universal healthcare in support of a two tiered system. It’s bad economics and bad health policy.
“What next? Financial penalties for people on higher incomes who send their kids to government schools?”
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