What is a good name for the proposed GP charges?

[donnashuggy]

Should they call it a GP Tax?

[silverfaun]

Just another Abbott bashing thread tax?

[donnashuggy]

That is a good name silverfaun, what does everyone else think?

[catsnknots]

I don't get the anger.... 

It will  apply to people that do not have a health care card. It will only be paid by those that earn more money, so in reality it will be wealth based. Isn't that was you all want? I am sure most of you that have complained about this haver also said that the wealthy should pay more tax, that the big companies should pay more tax and that we should stop supporting the wealthy. 

[cherry*135]

It will apply to people who alredsy pay Medicare levy and possibly health fund fees ss well.

Why should they have to pay more?

Govts shoukdnt ho around sticking $5 fees on free health services.It is bandaid policy.

Overhaul the whole of Medicare if it isnt viable.

A $5 fee will go up $7 $10 $12. The clinics will want an admin fee as it will cost them more to adminster ( the ones that are free to everyone at present).

[cherry*135]

Only the first 12 visits per year will be exempt for health card holders. The ones that will have to pay are people that do need regular ongoing Drs visits.

[punch*drunk]

How often does the average person see a doctor? More than once a month would be pretty extraordinary woldnt it?

[polocross58]

The world is filled with malingerers and many of them frequent doctors' surgeries

They go there to feel important

They go because they're self-absorbed hypochondriacs

They go so they can tell people, ' MY doctor said .... '

They go to have someone to talk to

They go in order to force doctors to pay them undivided attention if only for ten minutes

They go because it's free

They go because they have nothing of worth to fill their empty lives and heads

They go because they can

Doctors' time and energies are abused by these people.  They hold up the line.  They force the genuinely ill to sit and wait

They go far more often than twelve times per year.  For some, it's a twice-weekly indulgence

If charging them a few dollars will force them to cut it out, I'm all for it

[cherry*135]

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@punch*drunk wrote:

How often does the average person see a doctor? More than once a month would be pretty extraordinary woldnt it?

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There are people with serious illnesses.. severe diabetes? that go quite often for check ups on their condition, more than 12 times a year anyway.

Personally I would go once a year or less.

The free to all bulk bill I go to occasionally has waits of up to 2 hrs frequently, 3 hours after 5pm when there are less Dr's rostered on.. a malingerer would have to be pretty keen to wait that long to get 5mins or less to see the Dr. 

Patients are in and out in a flash, the Dr's don't waste anytime on chit chat.. lucky if they say hello.. they are straight into what are your sypmtoms.

Where as my local medical centre where you everyone pays the gap, I can see people going in there just for a chat, but they would have to pay the $30 gap each time.

[imastawka]

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@am*3 wrote:
Only the first 12 visits per year will be exempt for health card holders. The ones that will have to pay are people that do need regular ongoing Drs visits.

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HCC holders and pensioners are exempted completely.

A backdown means people would get 6 visits per year before charging

http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/no-5-gp-fee-for-families-pensioners/story-fneuz9ev-122679395...

[cherry*135]

Thanks ima. 

Under the new proposals, pensioners and concession card holders would be exempt and families allowed up to 12 bulk billed visits before they must start paying.

 http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/razor-gang-is-set-to-introduce-an-upfront-5-fee-for-visits...

So families without health cards pay for 12 bulk billed visits p.a. then  they are free? 12 visits per family no matter which person sees the Dr?

Single people without health care cards will always pay.