Key Points
- People isolating for five days can continue to claim payments up to $540
- Claims will be limited to a maximum of three payments over six months
- Bupa to return up to $340 to customers as part of its pandemic savings
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the COVID-19 pandemic leave payments for people forced to isolate will continue at current rates beyond 30 September.
He said the emergency payments would remain available for as long as the mandatory isolation period remains effective in states and territories.
"While the government requires mandated isolation, the government has a responsibility to provide support," Mr Albanese said after a meeting of National Cabinet.
"We remain obviously of the view that if people are sick, whether from COVID or from other health issues, they should not be at work, and that is important."
The leave payments have cost taxpayers more than $2.2 billion since the pandemic started.
NSW Health said public hospitals delivered high-quality care in the June quarter despite the recent Omicron wave and an early winter flu season.
It said the majority of emergency department patients (62.8 per cent) started treatment on time, and more than seven in 10 patients (72.5 per cent) were transferred from ambulance to ED staff within the 30-minute benchmark.
"Almost all urgent elective surgeries (98.2 per cent) were performed on time."
Bupa customers can expect a cash handout of up to $340 per policy next month.
The company is returning cash as part of its pandemic savings.
Health insurance companies are expected to raise their premiums on 1 November.
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