Self funded retirees to lose access to Seniors Health Card
More than 22,000 low income self funded retirees will lose access to their Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CHSC) from July next year.
The Rudd Government is tightening access to the CHSC by implementing more stringent income definition requirements.
Gross income from superannuation incomes streams from a taxed source, and income that is salary sacrificed to superannuation, will now be included in the card’s income test.
In losing the CSHC older Australians will no longer receive: access to pharmaceuticals at a concessional rate; bulk billed Medicare services (at discretion of the GP); the seniors’ concession allowance ($514); telephone allowance ($139); and the seniors’ lump sum bonus of $500 (if this is paid again next year).
The changes to the income test were contained in the 2008/09 budget and confirmed at a Senate Committee hearing in June.
