The Private Health Insurance Legislation Amendment (Base Premium) Bill 2013 was passed by the House of Reps on Tues 4.6.2013, without amendment and now moves to the Senate. The Bill proposes to implement the Government’s 2012-13 MYEFO announcement that from 1 April 2014, the premium to which the Private Health Insurance Rebate is applied will move in line with CPI or the commercial premium increase, whichever is lower.
The Private Health Insurance Amendment (Lifetime Health Cover Loading and Other Measures) Bill 2012 was also passed by the House of Reps last night [Tue 4.6.2013] without amendment (by a 71:70 vote) and now moves to the Senate. It proposes to amend the Private Health Insurance Act 2007 and make minor consequential amendments to the ITAA 1936, ITAA 1997 and the Taxation Administration Act 1953. The Bill provides for 2 categories of amendments to the Private Health Insurance Act: (i) it proposes to remove the rebate on private health insurance from the Lifetime Health Cover loading part of affected premiums; and (ii) from 1 July 2013, claiming the rebate through a Department of Human Services Service Centre under the Incentive Payments Scheme will cease.
[LTN 107, 5/7/13]