The Impact of the 2026 Federal Budget on Your Health Care
What the 2026 Federal Budget means for health care at Brunswick Health
On 12 May 2026, the federal Treasurer handed down the 2026 federal Budget. It includes some of the biggest changes to how Australians access health care in over a decade — affecting Private Health Insurance, DVA (Veterans), Home Care Packages, and the NDIS.
If you receive care at Brunswick Health and any of these apply to you, here’s what you need to know — without the jargon.
The Budget changes don’t hit every service the same way: – Chiropractic, physiotherapy and podiatry — these are the modalities most likely to be affected by the DVA, Home Care Package and NDIS changes, because they’re the services most commonly claimed through those schemes. – Acupuncture and remedial massage — these are generally claimed through private health insurance extras, so the Private Health Insurance Rebate change is the one to watch (especially if you’re 65 or over). Either way, nothing changes today — the earliest of these reforms starts in April 2027. If you’d like to talk through what this means for your specific care, your practitioner or our reception team is the best place to start.
If you have Private Health Insurance and you're 65 or over
This is the change that will affect the most Brunswick Health patients directly.
From 1 April 2027, the higher private health insurance rebate for Australians aged 65 and over is being removed.
Here’s what that means in plain English:
The Private Health Insurance Rebate is the discount the Government applies to your private health insurance premium. The size of that discount currently depends on two things: your income tier and your age. People aged 65–69 get a slightly bigger rebate than people under 65, and people aged 70+ get a slightly bigger one again.
From 1 April 2027, that age-based “bump” is going. Everyone in the same income tier will get the same rebate percentage, regardless of age.
What this means for your premium: if you’re 65 or over, your rebate will drop and your out-of-pocket premium cost will go up. The exact dollar impact depends on your income tier and your policy. According to independent modelling, around 3 million Australians aged 65 and over will be affected, and about 70% of insured Australians in that age group earn $55,000 or less.
This change is also landing in the same year as the highest average premium rise since 2017 (4.41% from 1 April 2026), which means many older policyholders are facing a double cost increase.
If you’re under 65: nothing changes for you — your rebate stays exactly the same.
What to do: there’s no need to act today. The change doesn’t take effect until 1 April 2027. Closer to the date, it’s worth contacting your health fund and asking them to model your new premium so you can budget for it, and to review whether your current level of cover is still the right fit.
If you're on a Home Care Package (or waiting for one)
The Budget delivers a $1.4 billion expansion of Support at Home over four years, with a big part of that going toward releasing more home care packages, sooner.
If you’ve been waiting for a package — or waiting for a higher-level package — this should mean shorter waits ahead.
A couple of things haven’t been confirmed yet:
- Capped prices for Support at Home services have been flagged but not finalised. We’ll let you know if and when this affects your fees with us.
- The future of the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) past 1 July 2027 is still being decided.
If you currently receive physiotherapy, chiropractic, podiatry, massage or any other allied health service with us through a Home Care Package or CHSP, please speak to your home care package provider if you have any concerns about continuity of care.
If you're a Veteran Card holder (DVA)
Two changes are coming from 1 July 2027.
1. Higher rebates for your allied health care. The Government is investing $169.7 million over five years to lift the fees it pays allied health practitioners who treat veterans. This came directly out of a recommendation from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
2. A simpler way to access your care. Right now, DVA allied health care works on a “treatment cycle” system — a fixed block of sessions that requires an initial consultation, a care plan, and an end-of-cycle report each time. From 1 July 2027, that’s being scrapped.
In its place: a $5,000 annual limit for allied health services, which can be extended if your practitioner says more care is needed.
What this means for you: fewer “starter” appointments before treatment can begin, no end-of-cycle paperwork interrupting your care, and more flexibility to spread your sessions across the year in the way that suits you best.
If you're an NDIS participant
The Budget confirms the funding for the major reset of the NDIS that was announced earlier this year. The scheme will keep growing — just more slowly — and how it works is changing.
Here are the dates that matter most to participants:
- October 2026 — The new Thriving Kids program begins for children aged 8 and under with developmental delay or autism and low-to-moderate support needs.
- October 2026 — As plans come up for reassessment, budgets for social, civic, and community participation activities start being reset.
- 1 February 2027 — Unspent funds will no longer carry over when your plan is renewed. This matters if you’ve been used to banking unused budget for later in the year.
- 1 April 2027 — Participants begin transitioning to a new “framework planning” approach.
- 1 January 2028 — New NDIS applicants will be assessed under a new functional capacity process. Existing participants will be reassessed under the new system over the following two years.
- By 31 December 2030 — All participants will be on the new framework plans.
The practical takeaway: day-to-day, nothing changes immediately. But at your next scheduled plan reassessment, expect the process — and the structure of your plan — to look different from what you’re used to.
Book in with confidence
The Budget changes don’t take effect until 2027 — so for now, it’s business as usual at Brunswick Health.
Whether you’re a regular patient or thinking about your first visit, we’re here when you need us. Book your next appointment or call us — our reception team can help you choose the right practitioner for what you need.
Read the full Budget details
This article is general information only and not personal financial, medical or legal advice. Budget measures may change as legislation passes through Parliament. For advice on your situation, please speak with your fund adviser.
Reviewed by Dr Voula Roumel, Chiropractor — registered since 1987.