Table 1 Federal health care policy changes (cut points)
From: Development of a health care policy characterisation model based on use of private health insurance
| Federal Health Policy "Cut Points" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cut Point | Commencement (and duration) of initiative* | Description of Initiative |
| 1 | Sept 1981 (- Jan 1984) | Abolition of free public hospital care |
| 2 | Feb 1984 (- Oct 1986) | Medicare introduced (Universal bulk billing and free public hospital care restored) |
| Out of hospital rebate set at 85% of scheduled fee | ||
| Maximum rebate set at $10 | ||
| Levy set at 1% | ||
| 3 | Nov 1986 (- June 1993) | Medicare levy increased to 1.25% |
| Out of hospital rebate @ 85%/$20 | ||
| GAP set at $150/annum | ||
| In hospital rebate set at 75% with no maximum | ||
| Private hospital insurance to cover remaining 25% | ||
| 4 | 1993 (- 1995) | Medicare Levy increased to 1.4% |
| 5 | 1995 (- 1997) | Medicare Levy increased to 1.5% |
| 0.2% Surcharge introduced to pay for a guns "buy back" following Port Arthur massacre | ||
| 6 | 1997 (-1999) | Private Health Insurance Incentive Scheme: Surcharge of 1% introduced for high income household without PHI. |
| GAP cover policies allowed (No GAP and known GAP) | ||
| Simplified billing (use of billing agents) | ||
| 7 | Jan 1999 (- June 2000) | Uncapped 30% PHI† rebate for hospital and ancillary benefits with no means test |
| 8 | July 2000 (- Present) | Lifetime Health Cover: Differential premiums allowed based on age at initial premium. |
| Informed Consent: Patients provided with quotes on costs prior to procedure commencement | ||
