It’s that time of year again, when Health Insurance premiums usually rise by hundreds of dollars for the average family. Last year, Health Minister Peter Dutton signed off on an average annual increase of 6.2% in private health insurance premiums, with Insurer NIB reported to be the highest of the 34 insurers with an average of 8%. “We desperately need discounted medical [insurance],” […]

The Oscars were the hottest party in the world this week. We didn’t score an invite, but not to worry. We’ve put on our glad rags and gone in search of the best entertainment bargains in town. And the winners are … 1. See – and hear – the stars of tomorrow strut their stuff at free or ridiculously cheap […]

What’s the secret to ageing well? It’s a combination of a healthy lifestyle, independence, social engagement, financial security and access to health services, according to a wide-ranging report designed to better understand FiftyUps. The Council on the Ageing NSW Consumer Survey 2013, released last month, asked 1804 people aged over 50 living in NSW for their views on health and […]

Free visits to the GP could soon be a thing of the past for most people, after the Health Minister Peter Dutton last week proposed a radical overhaul of Australia’s health system. In a hardline speech in Brisbane, Dutton described the current system as “riddled with inefficiency and waste”, saying he wanted to “modernise and strengthen Medicare”. The upshot? You […]

Treasurer Joe Hockey’s “Age of Entitlement” schtick is proving to be the gift that keeps on giving. (Or taking, as the case may be.) Speaking at the start of the G20 finance ministers’ meeting in Sydney last week, the Treasurer again flagged raising the retirement age, saying longer life expectancies imposed costs – including the age pension – which may […]