Australian Greens block government private health insurance rebate cuts

Greens block government health rebate cuts over pensioner exemption demands.

The Australian government's legislation to reduce private health insurance rebates for older residents has stalled in parliament. The Greens refused support unless pensioners receive an exemption from the policy. Official projections indicate tens of thousands of older citizens will abandon their private coverage as a result.

• The savingsThe proposed legislative changes aimed to save the federal budget $3,000,000,000.
• The dropoutsRevised estimates suggest nearly 80,000 older Australians will drop private health coverage.
• The timelineThe government intended for the new rebate rules to take effect in April 2027.