we're probably going to change to Medibank, so I'll discuss it with them. My current health fund has never offered me this option or even suggested it to me!

all I know is that it seems to take forever, I'm out of pocket, my anaesthetist is out of pocket, we're all upset and frustrated at this charade and endless delays and running around wasting time and money AND all for a refund of less than 25%. To be honest, I hate this syetm and I wish it would change

We are with Medibank now and they are really fast with their payouts.

Most of our bills are submitted electronically but the very few that we have had to submit to Medibank for refunds were in our bank account within a week.

With our dentist, the bill is submitted to the fund while we stand there and the payout is notified.  We pay the balance....all within minutes before we leave the surgery.

Our doctor bulk bills, as does the optometrist so no fiddling with the fund there.

On the few occasions we have been sent to a specialist they have billed the fund electronically and we pay the balance on the spot.

I am sure it is more complicated when there is a hospital involved, but all the doctors bills incurred by my father were dealt with promptly and the hospital itself dealt with the fund.

all I'm saying is that people - if they want - should be allowed to opt OUT of Medicare and NOT have to pay the 2% Medicare Levy

They should then be allowed to negotiate whatever deal they want with a private health insurer

For the middle classes, the intervention of government into the health system has been a disaster, as another poster has also said. It has increased costs for everyone, reduced benefits for patients and left us struggling to cope with skyrocketing premiums and out of pocket doctors, surgeons and dentists fees

and on top of that, the Med Levy, which I recall once upon a time was set at 1% of taxable income has now DOUBLED to 2% of taxed income

It's more likely that advances in medicine have increased the costs than medicare alone. 

You only have to look at the increase in types of surgeries, and increase in treatments for some illnesses and injuries.  

Take yourself back to the 60s if you want but please don't expect the rest of us to joyfully take the journey with you.