Treasurer Joe Hockey has raised the prospect of people living until 150 to explain why Australians should accept cuts to government benefits and pay a greater share of their health costs.

Mr Hockey also refused to deny reports that he and former health minister Peter Dutton opposed a $20 cut to Medicare rebates for short consultations in a meeting of cabinet's powerful Expenditure Review Committee. The government abandoned the planned cut, which was due to take effect on Monday, after a revolt by doctors and Senate crossbenchers.

"I'm not going to engage in a discussion on gossip," Mr Hockey said on Monday in an interview with 3AW's Neil Mitchell when asked about the leak.