Fix Private Health Insurance for Older Australians – Add your voice and SIGN PETITION HERE
The Senate’s decision to block the Federal Government’s proposed cuts to the private health insurance rebate is a win for older Australians, COTA Australia says. Senators from across the chamber today backed a motion to remove the Bill from the Senate’s agenda.
Older people are considering cutting spending on food, healthcare, energy bills and other essentials to keep their private health insurance if proposed rebate changes go ahead, new COTA Australia survey findings reveal.
COTA Australia’s supplementary submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee strengthens our call not to proceed with removing the additional age-based private health insurance rebate.
Consumer groups welcome a report of the review into the Customer Owned Banking Code of Practice, which contains important reforms for customers experiencing financial hardship, family violence, financial abuse and vulnerability.
Many older Australians have paid private health insurance premiums for decades. Now, just as they are more likely to need health care, Government are proposing to cut the age-based rebate that helps keep their cover affordable. If you don’t agree, add your support and sign our petition!
The increase to Age Pension payments from 20 September will provide welcome relief for millions of older Australians struggling with continued cost-of-living pressures, COTA Australia says.
COTA Australia’s submission argues that fee transparency, including informed financial consent, must be a legally enforceable consumer right, with older Australians facing acute risk from unexpected medical costs and split billing practices.
COTA Australia supports a strong and enforceable General Insurance Code of Practice but is concerned the proposed redraft weakens existing commitments and places too many important consumer protections in unenforceable guidance.
COTA Australia endorsed the joint consumer submission to the Insurance Council of Australia’s consultation on the Redrafted General Insurance Code of Practice, while highlighting issues of particular importance to older Australians in our own direct submission.
We support the rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across Australia, but we have concerns about who will pay for it. Our submission to the Australian Energy Market Commission argues that the energy transition must be fair and affordable for all Australians, not just those who can afford an electric vehicle.
Leading consumer and small business groups have criticised the Australian Energy Market Commission (AEMC) for failing to address the “loyalty tax” harming households and small business in its Pricing Review final report.
Older people need strong pricing protections that genuinely reduce costs and stop older people being exposed to excessive or unreasonable pricing over the long term – not rushed measures that risk locking in inflated prices, COTA Australia says.