If I have to pay to see the GP

[donnashuggy]

I might just take a bit longer and get my moneys worth.

Usually I am aware of people waiting (but there will be less of them apparently) so I can take my time 🙂

[*crikey*mate*]

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@just_me_karen wrote:
Something you may not know is every Australian who works has to pay a Medicare levy.

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obviously what we do pay isn't enough.

If it wwere there would have been no need to introduce the NDIS, or decrease services for those in Mental health etc.

Both of these groups and there are probably a whole heap more, should already have been receiving adequate health care under the existing medicare levy

[just_me_karen]

So, DH, how is NDIS funded?

[donnashuggy]

So if you are really sick and really poor and don't like waiting rooms this policy is brilliant!

[*crikey*mate*]

I never said it was a good idea, but we obviously need more money for healthcare from somewhere.

I guess it is this way, so user pays or they up the medicare levy for everyone, which would also affect those who already pay up to $75 for their doctor visit.

I think I read somewhere it is capped at 12 x $6 = $72

I don't know if that is per person or per family though.

Australia, in general, needs better health care.

My reservations with introducing this co payment is that it may be $6 now, but in time, it creates an avenue for that to creep up.

I don't know the history of our healthcare beyond the last 20 odd years, but when and why was the bulk billing introduced anyway? My regular doc isn't bulk bill, but on the GC we have a home visit after hours service that is. We do use that if we need to, but not sure about anything else.

[j*oono]

I suppose the medicare levy surcharge helps.  If you earn quite a bit and you don't have private health cover you pay a 1% surcharge. That's what we have always done. This I suppose helps all Australians.  

Of course it has meant at times that we pay the full wack for a lot of things.  

Dental help and as previously mentioned cataract surgery.  I don't really believe in lining anyone elses pocket when the rules are changed all the time and if you can't pay anymore for some reason you lose all assistance and go back to public.  Where did your money go?  Hell, medical insurance is so expensive. 

[amber-eyed-girl]

I agree with you.

Anything I have ever needed from the medical system, apart from the rebate on the GP visit of approximately half, and other little odds and ends of tiny rebates, has always been paid for out of my pocket.

If I were unable to afford it, I wouldn't be here. After paying, paying, paying, for the levy and private insurance.

I do not begrudge it, but where is that assistance when I need it?

Just my luck to get the wrong illnesses I guess. There is something very wrong when in a country which tries to have a decent medical system, serious illness can cost someone all they have.

[i-need-a-martini]

Bulk Billing was introduced in 1974. And for very good reason.

Pre bulkbilling, if you needed a GP in NSW then you had to pay to see one in the eastern Suburbs or the North Shore. Because the only people that could afford to see a doctor lived in those areas. So doctors all scrambled to set up practices there straight out of medical school.

If you lived in a regional area or west or south (where I lived) then you either coughed up money and make a car trip to north or east. Or you made your way to an overcrowded practice servicing too many people in your area that was run by a doctor who either a) saw patients for a pittance because he believed all people should have access to a doctor or b) some second rate doctor that barely made it out of medical school or c) some guy who had a forged medical certificate on his wall who wasn't even a doctor.

The introduction was aimed to create universal access to medical care. It was also introduced with the aim of halting the level of debt collection incurred because people couldn't pay their medical fees. I read something somewhere that mentioned that at one point there was an extraordinary moment in our history when the majority of people in gaol were there because they couldn't afford to pay off a medical debt.

Once bulkbilling was introduced, there was no finacial reason for a doctor to set up in any particular area.

[catsnknots]

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@lakeland27 wrote:

the people i see when i go have children. its them and pensioners mostly in the waiting room. he'll be losing both.

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From what I know pensioners and people with a health care card will be exempt from the fee .... or don't you read the leaks???? 

[catsnknots]

I laugh when people say "oh I pay the medicare levy" as if that covers the cost of their health care.. that is laughable. When you go and get a bulk billed blood test who pays for that and how much does that cost???

I see some blood tests that cost the government $600 for just one test.... that average FBC and ELFT that most people get cost around $20 minimum. 

Then you have the referral to a specialist that lots of people will be bulk billed for ... that is another maybe $150 minimum. 

They then ask for an x-ray that is also bulk billed for at a cost of another say $250, god help you if you need an MRI of $700 and you don't get bulk billed for. 

So that is an accumulation of over $1000 for just one chain of events including the initial visit (more if you needed the MRI).  

People do not pay enough of the medicare levy to cover themselves and the person that has a health care card or a pension card. 

What about those getting treatment for cancer????? Do you think that the medicare levy covers that???? no way, not even close. 

If you want the service that you all expect then you need to pay more. When I have an episode and need to visit the Dr I might need to go three times in one fortnight... maybe more.. then I will need blood tests to check my medication... I have a health care card and get bulk billed so I am lucky but if I need to pay for it I would. I know the costs of my treatment... I appreciate the amazing service we get here in Australia and I know the increasing costs on our health services.... 

We all need to pay a bit more to maintain the services we get... 

[azureline**]

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@catsnknots wrote:

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@lakeland27 wrote:

the people i see when i go have children. its them and pensioners mostly in the waiting room. he'll be losing both.

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From what I know pensioners and people with a health care card will be exempt from the fee .... or don't you read the leaks???? 

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That was said back in January (I think) but I can't find any links to the specifics now, other than the capped 12 visits per person.

I am not sure that anyone believes the levy covers all the costs of medical treatment but that may depend on what we actually pay in $.

Which reminds me, I have a bill here from QML to pay, for my FIL who is the nursing home as it can't be bulk billed. Not sure why