Australians are paying much more for health care than people in France and the UK, consumer advocates say, amid debate over a proposed Medicare co-payment. <\/p>\n
Further, 17 per cent of healthcare expenditure in Australia is already being funded by individual co-payments, and any extra fee will create major barriers to accessing health care, a report by the Consumers Health Forum suggests. <\/p>\n
The proposal to charge patients a $6 fee for bulk-billed GP visits was raised in late December by a health consultant who said it was a reasonable measure to keep the Medicare system going. <\/p>\n
Health Minister Peter Dutton has flagged major changes to the system, saying he wants to have a frank and fearless conversation about co-payments. <\/p>\n
But the forum, the national peak body representing the interests of Australian healthcare consumers, says if the $6 co-payment proposal was implemented, low-income earners would be hit hardest, along with the chronically ill and the elderly. <\/p>\n
The forum's chief executive, Adam Stankevicius, says consumers should not be slugged with more fees. <\/p>\n
\"We want to have an evidence-based discussion as to what it is that's going to make the biggest impact in terms of better financially managing the sustainability of our healthcare system,\" he said. <\/p>\n
\"But we don't want health care consumers to be slugged with additional costs when there are other more complex and more intricate arguments [to be had on] how we can best move forward on that sustainability footing.\" <\/p>\n
He says co-payments will fail to generate cost savings for the health system, delay treatments and reduce access to health care for Australians. <\/p>\n
\"People who are older, people on pensions in particular, are those that consider the financial outlay more seriously,\" he said. <\/p>\n
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Australians pay more for health care than France, UK, report says, amid Medicare co-payment debate<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Australians are paying much more for health care than people in France and the UK, consumer advocates say, amid debate over a proposed Medicare co-payment. Further, 17 per cent of healthcare expenditure in Australia is already being funded by individual co-payments, and any extra fee will create major barriers to accessing health care, a report by the Consumers Health Forum suggests. The proposal to charge patients a $6 fee for bulk-billed GP visits was raised in late December by a health consultant who said it was a reasonable measure to keep the Medicare system going Continue reading