Small pleasures' sacrificed for health insurance slug

Key points

• Labor has reintroduced a bill that would reduce private health insurance rebates for people over 65 from April next year. The government says the cut would save about $3 billion over four years.
• Opposition, crossbench and Greens senators have criticised the plan, and the Greens and coalition say they may support it if pensioners are protected.
• Health Minister Mark Butler says those over 65 will pay about $250 a year more under the changes.