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New research unveils confusion

A study released today by HBF shows that over 150,000 Western Australians could miss out on thousands of dollars of savings due to confusion around the impending means testing of the private health insurance rebate.

Despite all respondents falling into in the affected household income brackets, which start at $84,000 pa for singles, the results showed that a quarter of people who would lose their rebate altogether were unaware of the impending means testing of the private health insurance rebate.

Only 1% were able to correctly state the income levels for the means testing tiers, and more than one in ten respondents believed they wouldn’t be affected by the changes, even though they would lose between 33% and 100% of the rebate.

Understanding of the impending changes to the Medicare Levy Surcharge is even lower, with less than half aware of changes which could cost them up to 1.5% of household income without eligible hospital cover.

“This research really backs up the stories we’re hearing from our members, that there is confusion out there,” said HBF Managing Director Rob Bransby.

“People are bringing their ATO letters into our branches asking for our help.  What really concerns us is those thousands of people who don’t know about the impending means-testing or  that they can pre-pay their health insurance; because those members might miss out and end up losing their rebate altogether.”
 
The research surveyed 449 Western Australians who fell into the affected household income brackets on their awareness, understanding and concern about the impending changes to the private health insurance rebate, means-testing and the Medicare Levy Surcharge.

In other findings:

• 24% of those who will be affected were not aware of the upcoming means testing
• Nearly half are ‘not at all confident’ they understand the changes (41%)
• Despite 26% stating the knew which income levels would be affected, only 1% were correct
• Nearly 1 in 5 believed they would not be affected or weren’t sure if they’d be affected

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For further information please contact:

Melanie Claessen
Media and Communications Consultant
08-9265-6361  / 0400-074-007
Melanie.claessen@hbf.com.au