I turned 71 this year and like many Australians, I have paid for private health insurance for decades in order to avoid the lengthy waiting lists that come with some non-urgent procedures in our public hospital system. It's not uncommon to face waits of up to two years for certain treatments and as a senior, timely access to healthcare is vital for maintaining quality of life.

Please sign this petition to call on the Australian Government to reverse its decision to reduce private health insurance rebates for Australians aged 70 years and over.

For many older Australians, private health insurance is not a luxury. It is a practical necessity that helps provide timely access to medical treatment and reduces pressure on Australia's public hospital system.

The 2026 Federal Budget proposes removing the higher age-based rebate currently available to older Australians and replacing it with a lower standard rebate. This change will increase the cost of private health insurance for many retirees and pensioners who are already facing rising living expenses, including higher insurance premiums, energy costs, housing costs and healthcare expenses.

Many Australians over 70 live on fixed incomes. They cannot simply work additional hours to offset rising costs. Increasing the cost of private health insurance risks forcing older Australians to downgrade or abandon their cover altogether.

This outcome would not only affect retirees. It would also place additional demand on already stretched public hospitals, increasing waiting times for elective surgery and specialist treatment for all Australians.

Australians who have paid taxes throughout their working lives and who have acted responsibly by maintaining private health insurance should not be penalised for growing older. 

Minister for Health Mark Butler has argued that a 65-year-old Australian should not have to pay higher insurance premiums to support increased rebates for those aged over 70. However, that same 65-year-old will also be 70 in just five years' time and could then rely on the very support that is now being removed. The rebate recognises the reality that healthcare costs generally increase with age and helps Australians maintain private cover as they grow older.

We therefore call upon the Australian Government to:

1. Reverse the proposed reduction in private health insurance rebates for Australians aged 70 years and over.

2. Maintain existing rebate levels for current policyholders aged 70 and above.

3. Undertake a comprehensive review of the long-term impact of any rebate changes on retirees, pensioners and the public hospital system before implementing any reductions.

4. Ensure that healthcare affordability remains a priority for older Australians living on fixed incomes.

Please sign this petition to  urge the Government to protect affordable access to private health insurance for older Australians and preserve the balance between Australia's public and private healthcare systems