leetom
there's too many of them!
Medicare safety net benefits cut:
The Federal Government has announced it will increase the threshold at which benefits are paid under its Medicare safety net to respond to a blow-out in the cost of the scheme.
Low-income earners currently receive 80 cents in the dollar for any out-of-pocket medical expenses, once they have spent $300 on bills.
The Government will increase that threshold to $500.
The threshold for other people will rise from $700 to $1,000 before the rebate will be paid.
John Howard has told Sky TV that the Government underestimated the popularity of the scheme.
"Since the election it has become apparent that the cost of it is going to be even greater than we thought at the time," he said.
"That is the reason why we believe, in the interest of maintaining it, we have to increase the safety net."
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) says it does not believe the blow-out claim.
President Dr Bill Glasson says he is disappointed by the changes.
"Prior to the election this was supposedly a well-costed, well-thought out initiative," he said.
"They told us it was sustainable and we went to the election with those figures, so you could argue were those figures rubbery?
"I don't believe those figures were rubbery, I believe that the figures that are being displayed are in fact not a blow-out."
Dr Glasson says it is premature to cut the scheme.
"I couldn't have forewarned them there would have been a spike, it's only natural there would have been a spike as these out-of-pocket expenses came on to the books, so to speak but then it would have flattened out," he said.
"So I think it's very premature to be actually making an announcement six months after the election and a few weeks before the Budget."
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley says the Government has broken an election promise and deceived the Australian public.
"This is so typical of John Howard. Say anything, do anything, promise anything to get yourself elected then after the election present the Australian public with a bill," he said.
Francis Sullivan, from Catholic Health Australia, says the changes are a cruel blow for average and low-income families, with many more set to miss out on refunds.
"It's the equivalent of a $200-a-year health tax and it also makes their chances of meeting the threshold very unrealistic," she said.
"Now on average you'll need to go to a GP 33 times before you'll make the threshold."
How embarassing for the Libs.
Interesting points:
* Radical shift in Liberal Party's election campaign promises. In the campaign, Tony Abbott decribed the $300 threshold as 'guaranteed' and 'iron clad'.
* John Howard's cautious explanation-
"Since the election it has become apparent that the cost of it is going to be even greater than we thought at the time"
* The AMA's blunt rejection of any cost blow-out and the AMA President's striking critisism of the Government-
"Prior to the election this was supposedly a well-costed, well-thought out initiative"
"I don't believe those figures were rubbery, I believe that the figures that are being displayed are in fact not a blow-out."
* The Bomber's justified critisism-
"This is so typical of John Howard. Say anything, do anything, promise anything to get yourself elected then after the election present the Australian public with a bill"
The Federal Government has announced it will increase the threshold at which benefits are paid under its Medicare safety net to respond to a blow-out in the cost of the scheme.
Low-income earners currently receive 80 cents in the dollar for any out-of-pocket medical expenses, once they have spent $300 on bills.
The Government will increase that threshold to $500.
The threshold for other people will rise from $700 to $1,000 before the rebate will be paid.
John Howard has told Sky TV that the Government underestimated the popularity of the scheme.
"Since the election it has become apparent that the cost of it is going to be even greater than we thought at the time," he said.
"That is the reason why we believe, in the interest of maintaining it, we have to increase the safety net."
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) says it does not believe the blow-out claim.
President Dr Bill Glasson says he is disappointed by the changes.
"Prior to the election this was supposedly a well-costed, well-thought out initiative," he said.
"They told us it was sustainable and we went to the election with those figures, so you could argue were those figures rubbery?
"I don't believe those figures were rubbery, I believe that the figures that are being displayed are in fact not a blow-out."
Dr Glasson says it is premature to cut the scheme.
"I couldn't have forewarned them there would have been a spike, it's only natural there would have been a spike as these out-of-pocket expenses came on to the books, so to speak but then it would have flattened out," he said.
"So I think it's very premature to be actually making an announcement six months after the election and a few weeks before the Budget."
Opposition Leader Kim Beazley says the Government has broken an election promise and deceived the Australian public.
"This is so typical of John Howard. Say anything, do anything, promise anything to get yourself elected then after the election present the Australian public with a bill," he said.
Francis Sullivan, from Catholic Health Australia, says the changes are a cruel blow for average and low-income families, with many more set to miss out on refunds.
"It's the equivalent of a $200-a-year health tax and it also makes their chances of meeting the threshold very unrealistic," she said.
"Now on average you'll need to go to a GP 33 times before you'll make the threshold."
How embarassing for the Libs.
Interesting points:
* Radical shift in Liberal Party's election campaign promises. In the campaign, Tony Abbott decribed the $300 threshold as 'guaranteed' and 'iron clad'.
* John Howard's cautious explanation-
"Since the election it has become apparent that the cost of it is going to be even greater than we thought at the time"
* The AMA's blunt rejection of any cost blow-out and the AMA President's striking critisism of the Government-
"Prior to the election this was supposedly a well-costed, well-thought out initiative"
"I don't believe those figures were rubbery, I believe that the figures that are being displayed are in fact not a blow-out."
* The Bomber's justified critisism-
"This is so typical of John Howard. Say anything, do anything, promise anything to get yourself elected then after the election present the Australian public with a bill"
