Older Australians support reform but implore Government for relief on health care costs

The FiftyUp Club is today meeting with Federal Health Minister Peter Dutton to ask for relief for the over-50s on health insurance premiums and GP co-payments.

On behalf of its 91,652 members, the FiftyUp Club will today ask the Minister:

1.    To reduce the impact of co-payments on Australians aged over 50, particularly pensioners, and

2.    To improve price transparency in private health insurance and require the regulator to publish annual premium increases by age brackets.

More than 11,000 Australians over 50 have added their voices to the submission to the Minister, delivering both good news and bad news for the Government.

More than two-thirds of FiftyUps believe the system is currently unsustainable and are prepared to contribute a small amount to their own health care costs if it helps balance the Federal Budget.

However, 30% say GP co-payments will force them to avoid the doctor when sick, or go to hospital instead, and 40% say co-payments and Health Insurance prices are likely to change how they vote at the next election.

FiftyUp Club Chair John Mangos said the survey showed older Australians support the reform agenda in principle, but are deeply anxious about current proposals.

“Older Australians are prepared to contribute, but we need to share the workload more fairly, particularly for pensioners who are doing it tough.”

The full submission to the Minister is available here.

The FiftyUp Club is a consumer network for Australians aged 50 and over with more than 91,000 members in Queensland and NSW. More information available at www.FiftyUpClub.com