I'm very happy with our system, provide the government's commited to maintaining it (unlike the previous federal governemnt, who were keen to erode it).
An overview:
All citizens are covered by
Medicare, which is funded by a 1.5% tax on all income earners who earn enough to pay tax. It covers all costs of eye exams (limited to one every two years), and anything related to admision in a public hospital, outpatients and rehab services.
In addition all approved medications are subsidised by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (
PBS), and annual costs are capped so that people on a number of drugs don't have to pay for PBS-subsidised medications once they reach the cap. The co-pay fee is reduced for anyone on a pension or concession.
Medicare wholly covers the cost of certain GP visits (bulk billing), but most GPs charge a higher fee, at least for some of their patients, who pay the difference between this and the Medicare coverage. In most case this works out to <$40 a visit. Blood tests etc are most often bulk billed.
Waiting lists for elective surgery range from a few months to over two years, depending on the type of surgery and the location of the patient and facility. For those who prefer to choose their own physicians and surgeons, who don't want to wait, and who prefer the more attractive surrounds of a private hospital, private health insurance is an alternative. Having private health insurance doesn't preclude citizens from using Medicare-funded resources.
The federal Liberal government introduced a three pronged stronger incentive for private health insurance - Lifetime Health Cover (where those who join private funds after the age of thirty are charged an additional rate for every year they wait), and a 30% rebate on private health insurance costs coupled with a second Medicare levy of 1% for those who earn over $50,000 a year. The new federal Labor government are increasing that threshold to $100,000 for singles, $150,000 for couples. There's some controversy about this, with concerns that a high number of people will drop out and increase strain on the private sector. My suspicion is that those who do drop out will be mostly young people who don't use many health resources and those who are in financial straits. The idea behind the rebate was that it would compensate to a degree the cost of fees, but since its introduction provate health funds have all increased their premiums.
I've chosen not to take out private insurance, even though I'm (well) over 30 and earn over $50,000, because I agree with universal health care and am (somewhat) hapy to pay extra to subsidise it
and because I didn't want to submit to the carrot-and-stick push to private health insurance
and because I'd rather be treated in a public hospital.
A few years ago I had elective orthodontic surgery in a private hospital - I was charged a night's stay, although I left from recovery (apparently recovery costs are included in theatre charges). I was happy with the treatment, and it wouldn't have been done in the public system - all up it cost around $4,000. Which is still less than if I'd been paying for private insurance all along!
Last year I fractured a finger and was treated through the public system - I was fast tracked through triage, x-rayed, seen by OT, fitted with a temporary splint and booked in for surgery within two hours. I had a reduction and K-wire within a week, twice weekly OT appointments for a month and fortnightly for another three months, and weekly plastics outpatients for a few weeks and then a follow up to remove the k-wire when it was infected (that appointment took place a day after I reported the infection). The only cost to me was for meds - Endone for pain relief and a course of oral anti's, for a total of around $25.
In the interests of full disclosure - I was treated at my hospital, and did therefore get a couple of perks: the theatre coordinator came to my ward so I could fill out the preadmission paperwork, I was first case, and the resource nurse of the day surgery unit (a friend) looked after me rather than allocating me to an agency nurse. I also didn't always have to wait in outpatients but on occasion was paged when they were ready to see me (but I didn't get seen any faster than other patients) and - more a function of being a nurse than an employee - I didn't have to front to the OT as often because she was happy I could reliably do my exercises.
When I read about the US health care system, and particularly read the heated threads about universal health care vs a private system, and about the percentage of GNP consumed vs quality and quantity of coverage, I'm in no doubt that, despite its many flaws, I prefer our system to yours
Sorry for so rambling on - hope it's helped.
Would you like to comment?
I really was pleased you thought my (very long) explanation was good, swear!
