Health Risk Management

 Federal Budget

 Goods & Services Tax (GST) - New Zealand

Did you know?

 Meet the Team

Health Risk Management

If you are serious about the health of your employees whilst wishing to improve productivity and your return on investment on employee benefits, a Health Risk Management strategy is worth considering.

 Read Get serious about your employees health, our recently published Point of View.

If you would like to hear more about Health Risk Management please contact Stephanie Ings.

Federal Budget

In May, both the Australian and New Zealand governments delivered their federal budgets.

In New Zealand, the proposed rise in GST will have an impact on group insurance policies.

In Australia, the much debated proposed change to the Federal Government's 30% rebate on health insurance premiums, high on the agenda in last year’s budget, was a noticeable omission this year.

Mercers’ commentaries on each budget:

• The New Zealand budget

• The Australian budget

Goods & Services Tax (GST) - New Zealand

One of the changes announced in the New Zealand 2010 budget was an increase in the GST rate from 12.5% to 15% effective 1 October, 2010.

This article explains how this will impact the application of GST to group insurance premiums.

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If you have any queries on the implications of these changes please contact Susan Hourigan.

Did you know?

In Australia, the Medicare Levy Surcharge thresholds have increased. For the 2010 – 11 financial year the threshold for singles will be $77,000 and for couples and families $154,000. The Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) is levied on Australian taxpayers who do not have private hospital cover and who earn above this threshold. The surcharge is calculated at the rate of 1% of taxable income. It is in addition to the Medicare Levy of 1.5%, which is paid by most Australian taxpayers.

The Medicare levy low income thresholds have also increased. For singles, to $18,488 and for couples and families to $31,196. For families the additional amount of threshold for each dependant child or student is now $2,865.

Meet the Team

Throughout the year we will be interviewing leaders across our Health & Benefits team in Australia and New Zealand. We would like you to get to know us, our business, and how we can help you succeed in 2010. In this edition, we introduce you to our new Principal, Steve Butler.

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If you are an Australian organisation and want some specialist advice on your group employee benefits insurance programme, contact Steve Butler or phone +61 3 9623 5750 to discuss how Mercer can help you achieve your goals.

 View the archived articles from previous Mercer Health & Benefits newsletters.