The Gillard Government is assuring Australia’s baby boomers that the concerns bolded in red below will not occur:
Under this market price option, accommodation costs to high care recipients and taxpayers (the accommodation subsidy for supported residents) are likely to be higher, but consumer choice and industry sustainability would be enhanced. Care recipients, however, would continue to be charged differently according to the level of assessed care need (high or low care) not the standard of accommodation they have chosen. There is also a concern that, as providers could charge what the market would bear, care recipients could be exploited and those with a lower capacity to pay would miss out. This is a greater concern in the short term, particularly in areas where there is limited competition. [Productivity Commission,June 2011,Caring for Older Australians,Vol Two]
If you live in rural and regional areas perhaps it is time to carefully read the report and make up your own mind on what aged care policy should be before federal politicians make up theirs.
