Private Health Insurance Incentives Amendment Regulations 1999 (No. 1) 1999 No. 2
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1999 NO. 2
Issued by authority of the Minister for Health and Aged Care
Private Health Insurance Incentives Act 1998
Private Health Insurance Incentives Amendment Regulations 1999 (No. 1)
Section 19-40 of the Private Health Insurance Incentives Act 1998 (the Act) provides that the Governor-General may make Regulations prescribing matters for the purposes of the Act.
The Act makes provision for, amongst other matters, private health insurance funds to participate in the new premium reduction scheme which delivers the 'Government's 30% rebate through reduced private health insurance premiums.
Subsection14-15 (1) provides that the Minister must approve the application of a fund to participate in the premium reduction scheme. Subsection 14-15 (2) provides that the Minister must not approve an application by a health fund to participate in the premium reduction scheme, if the health fund failed to comply with conditions for participation that are prescribed by the Regulations
The Private Health Insurance Incentives Amendment Regulations 1998 have been amended as follows:
* Under sub regulation 3, the terminology for the 30% rebate has been amended from 'Government's 30% rebate' to ´Federal Government 30% Rebate on private health insurance";
* Under paragraphs 4 (2) (c), and 5 (2) (c), as well as advertising material, the badging requirements have been mended to include:
- all advertising material that concerns the Rebate.,
- material advising contributors of premium increases;
- annual financial statements provided to contributors; and
- forms prepared by funds that refer to the Rebate.
* Under paragraphs 4 (2) (c), 4 (3) (b) and 5 (2) (c), a provision was inserted enabling the use of the Federal Government 30% Rebate on private health insurance logo in the following.
- all advertising material that concerns the Rebate;
- material advising contributors of premium increases;
- annual financial statements provided to contributors; and
- forms prepared by funds that refer to the Rebate.
Under the above provisions, use of the logo be deemed to satisfy the wording requirements; and
Under 5 (2) (a) a provision has been inserted requiring funds to distribute annual financial statements for the previous financial year to contributors by 15 July, instead of 30 June as previously stipulated.
The amendments came into effect on gazettal.