In response to Mark Fitzgibbon's analysis of the private health system and rebate (Letters, 4/5), I acknowledge his breakdown but raise a fundamental question. As someone who has held private health insurance for nearly 50 years, with minimal claims, shouldn't I be entitled to benefit from decades of unused premium contributions in my older age? This mirrors the principle that younger members, who Fitzgibbon suggests are subsidising older policyholders, will themselves eventually reap rewards later in life.
The current system seems to penalise long-term, low-claim members by not adequately recognising their loyalty and financial input. If younger members are expected to carry the burden now, it implies a reciprocal benefit when they age. Yet, for those who have already paid in for decades, that benefit appears diminished or absent.
I argue for a model that values sustained contributions, ensuring that those who have consistently supported the system receive fair compensation when they need care. This would align with the intergenerational fairness Fitzgibbon describes, but extended to include long-serving members who have already fulfilled their part of the social contract.
