2002-2003

 

The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

 

THE SENATE

 

 

 

Health Legislation Amendment (Private Health Insurance Reform) Bill 2003

 

 

(Government)

(1)     Schedule 1, item 3, page 4 (line 18), omit “or sexual orientation”, substitute “, sexual orientation or religious belief”.

[improper discrimination]

(2)     Schedule 1, item 3, page 4 (after line 21), after paragraph (ba), insert:

                  (baa)  the place of residence of a person, except to the extent that the person’s place of residence may be taken into account under section 73AAL;

[improper discrimination]

(3)     Schedule 1, item 3, page 4 (line 23), omit “place of residence, occupation,”, substitute “occupation or”.

[improper discrimination]

(4)     Schedule 1, item 10, page 8 (after line 3), at the end of section 73AAH, add:

             (4)  Determining entitlement to ancillary health benefits claimed in respect of a period by or on behalf of a contributor to a health benefits fund conducted by a registered health benefits organization, or by or on behalf of a dependant of such a contributor, by reference solely to the quantum of ancillary health benefits already claimed in respect of that period is consistent with the principles of community rating referred to in subsections (2) and (3).

[principles of community rating]

(5)     Schedule 1, item 10, page 9 (after line 36), after section 73AAK, insert:

73AAL   Discrimination on basis of place of residence

                   Nothing in this Act prevents a registered health benefits organization:

                     (a)  from charging different rates of contribution; or

                     (b)  from paying different levels of benefit;

in respect of persons who are contributors to the health benefits fund conducted by the organization, or in respect of persons who are dependants of such contributors, where such contributors or dependants have their place of residence in one State or Territory as distinct from another.

[differing rates and benefits]

(6)     Schedule 1, item 68, page 42 (line 20), omit “Refugee or”, substitute “Refugee and”.

[lifetime health cover]