09 October, 2026
Quotes attributable to Bupa Health Insurance Managing Director Kate Williams
At a time when pensioners and retirees are already being squeezed by rising living costs, removing the age-based rebate risks pricing some older Australians out of private health insurance altogether.
About 500,000 Bupa policies are held by Australians aged more than 65 on lower incomes. After decades of contributing to the private health system, many now face the prospect of paying more for the cover they have relied on for years.
Many have told us they are already struggling with cost-of-living pressures. Removing the age-based rebate could be the tipping point that forces some to downgrade or abandon their cover, reducing access to private care and putting further pressure on the public health system.
While Bupa supports the intent to provide additional funding for aged care, older Australians should not have to pay for it through higher health insurance costs.
That’s why we are calling for urgent amendments to the Private Health Insurance Amendment (Modernising the Private Health Insurance Rebate) Bill 2026 to protect pensioners and low-income older Australians from changes to the age-based rebate.
Older Australians who have done the right thing for decades should not be priced out of the health cover they depend on. Bupa will continue advocating for changes that protect affordable access to care.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Aleks Devic
Bupa Head of External Communications
Email: [email protected]
Mob: 0412 868 933
About Bupa Asia Pacific
Bupa is an international healthcare group which has been committed to a purpose of helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives and making a better world for more than 75 years. Bupa Asia Pacific operates in Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong, supporting about 8.2 million customers through a broad range of health and care services including health insurance, aged care, dental, medical, optical and hearing services. Employing more than 22,000 people in the region, we believe that we can make a real difference to the lives of customers through our values, purpose and the way that we deliver personalised care. Over the past 20 years we have invested more than AUD$40 million in partnerships and programs focused on improving health of communities across Australia.
