Private health insurance

Review of the impact of the new Medicare Levy Surcharge thresholds on public hospitals.

Reports by KPMG: "Review of the impact of the new Medicare Levy Surcharge thresholds on public hospitals Year 1 Review Report 2010" and "Review of the impact of the new Medicare Levy Surcharge thresholds on public hospitals Year 2 Review Report 2011".

The Tax Laws Amendment (Medicare Levy Surcharge Thresholds) Act (No 2) 2008 (the Act) lifted the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) income thresholds for single people from $50,000 to $70,000 per year and from $100,000 to $140,000 per year for couples/families.

The Act requires an independent review of the operation of the Act and its impact on public hospitals including the number of episodes of care, the impact on operating costs and the impact on elective surgery waiting lists (ESWL). The Department of Health and Ageing engaged KPMG on 25 June 2009 to undertake the three annual independent reviews required.

Year 1 Report 2010

This is the first annual review. The first review considered Australian Hospital Statistic (AHS) Report data from 2007-08 as a baseline to enable comparison of hospital activity with subsequent years following the implementation of changes to the Surcharge. The Minister tabled the report in both Houses of Parliament on 22 June 2010.

Review of the impact of the new Medicare Levy Surcharge thresholds on public hospitals Year 1 Review Report 2010 (PDF 409 KB) .

Year 2 Report 2011

This is the second annual review. The second review found that changes to the MLS did not affect public hospital activity trends or ESWL within the period reviewed (to June 2009 for hospital separations and to March 2010 for ESWL), and there has been no significant impact on public hospital operating costs.

Review of the impact of the new Medicare Levy Surcharge thresholds on public hospitals Year 2 Review Report 2011 (PDF 343KB).
Review of the impact of the new Medicare Levy Surcharge thresholds on public hospitals Year 2 Review Report 2011 (RTF 43.8MB).

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