Geelong’s GMHBA campaigns against Gillard Government rebate cuts

Geelong insurer GMHBA has launched a campaign against the Gillard Government’s proposed cuts to health insurance rebates.

GMHBA chief Mark Valena said the My Cover Matters campaign would raise awareness of the impact of the cuts on the health insurer’s members.

GMHBA was sending letters to its 230,000-plus members, urging them to “voice their opposition” to the rebate changes.

Mr Valena warded the cuts could add up to $500 a year to the cost of GMHBA insurance.

He raised the significance of the issue for the marginal Labor-held seat of Corangamite but said the campaign was about policy, not politics.

“Our single objective is to see a change in policy in the best interests of the health care of our members and the community.”

The Gillard Government proposes to remove a rebate from the lifetime health cover component of premiums and to cap the indexation of the private health insurance rebate to no more than CPI.