[oramar]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08111/874677-35.stm

[SillyStudent]

I am interested to know how that system changes the earning power of healthcare professionals. I am all for the common good and everything, but I understand that government controlled healthcare negatively changes salaries.

[oramar]

Originally Posted by SillyStudent

I am interested to know how that system changes the earning power of healthcare professionals. I am all for the common good and everything, but I understand that government controlled healthcare negatively changes salaries.

You might try going to the Regional forums for that. I think there was quite a lot of discussion about Australia and nurse wages in last year or so.

[towntalker]

i want people to get the care that they need and i don't know much about austrailia
but i have talked with european/english who find that they aren't really satisfied with the care that they receive esp with preventive care

who sets the pay rate, the government? what is the tax rate, the italian woman told me that they take over 50% of the combined income
can you work private duty?
what about long term care, assisted living, independent living?? are all these covered
peopel with limited, fixed income need to know answers before they take a big leap

[nyapa]

We've a very good health care system. If one is ill, then one can be assessed and admitted should the need arise. We have some great compassionate doctors, and yes, we are up there with the best. After all, who discovered that helicobacter existed? A Perth researcher in Western Australia...

The public system works like this:
For minor illnesses you can visit your general medical practitioner. You pay, but you receive money back via Medicare to cover part of your costs. If you have a disability, or are on an old age pension, or a pension for any other reason, then the cost is reduced.

Attendance at a public emergency department is also free.

We do have to pay for ambulance services, unless you are on a pension.

Medicare in Australia is a government body that covers our health system. We have some money taken out of our tax; about 1.5% every year, to cover it.

The GP may refer you on to a specialist if necessary. You can choose the path you wish to go: private health care, or public health care. To have private care, obvioiusly you have to pay, but those who choose to go private have private health insurance to cover it. Public health care is free. The same specialists work in both private and public sectors, so you are still getting the best care.

The major public hospitals are the teaching hospitals, so the care provided in them has to be cutting edge in the city. I work in a regional capital city hospital, and I tell you now, there is NO WAY I would go private. I have worked a couple of agency shifts in the private...

The doctors in the public hospitals are graded into four types; interns, registered medical officers, registrars and specialists. There is always someone around when they are needed. In the private system at night time you have to call the patients specialist. I know where I would rather be...

All care provided in public hospitals is free - from nursing care, medical care, allied health, critical care, theatre, the works. The bed is free. This includes psychiatric care. All tests, bloods, xrays, CT scans, MRIs are free. Medications if you are admitted to hospital are also free, as is nursing care. Its all free.

If you choose to go into a private hospital, then you pay for every little thing. Of course insurance covers it. But there is usually a gap between what the hospital charges, and what the insurance company will pay.

The cost of medications in the community is covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Everything we need costs @ 35$ each. I am on sodium valproate, sertraline, and lamotrigine. So I would normally pay this. My husband however is on a disability pension, so we pay $4.95 per medication.

In the Australian public health system we are paid more than in the Australian private health system.

If you need home care, or dressings done, then that is provided free as well, by nurses. That applies to psychiatric as well as medical care. There are community specialist nurses. You are also able to attend community health clinics for care

My husband required transfer to Adelaide for radiotherapy, which is down the other end of Australia from us. Because the service wasn't provided up here, the government paid for his accommodation, his flight down and back, his treatment in Adelaide, the transport to and from the airport. The place where he stayed had a bus that went between the radiotherapy unit and his accommodation, all he had to pay was 'a gold coin' ie a dollar, or two dollars; whatever he could afford. The place he stayed at was run by the Australian Cancer Council. They had a converted motel. It is beautiful! And there is a social worker on site...
He became quite stressed and almost suicidal; we had many things happening up here as well as what he was going through. He was referred onto the psychiatric department and had access to a psychiatric nurse whenever needed. He also developed bad burns. There were nurses attached to the radiotherapy unit who attended his dressings, and at one stage the oncology specialist wanted to have him admitted to the burns unit. My husband refused, as he only had a few treatments to go before coming home. But the service was there.

If someone requires a nurse or medical escort between one facility to another, it doesn't matter how far away, that is also a free service.

Many of our patients up here are from Aboriginal bush communities. The public system provides a family member as an escort for all children and some elderly people. Accomodation is provided for those who require it. And there are Aboriginal translators as many of our people speak English as a second language and the hospital considers it important for informed consent to be provided. There are also Aboriginal Health Workers, who work within the system providing culturally appropriate health intervention, as well as Aboriginal Liasion Officers, who work in a social worker capacity.

Nurses in the public system are paid more generally than in the private system...

Really, I think our system is brilliant over here. I'd truly be scared to live under a system such as that provided in the US...

[oramar]

Originally Posted by nyapa

. Really, I think our system is brilliant over here. I'd truly be scared to live under a system such as that provided in the US...

Apparently the doctor that wrote that article thinks it is brilliant also.

[llg]

Originally Posted by nyapa

The GP may refer you on to a specialist if necessary. You can choose the path you wish to go: private health care, or public health care. To have private care, obvioiusly you have to pay, but those who choose to go private have private health insurance to cover it. Public health care is free. The same specialists work in both private and public sectors, so you are still getting the best care.

......
If you choose to go into a private hospital, then you pay for every little thing. Of course insurance covers it. But there is usually a gap between what the hospital charges, and what the insurance company will pay.

If the public system services are just as good as those in the private system ... then why would anyone choose to go the private route? That makes no sense. There must be some benefits to being a private paying patient or else no one would choose to pay the money. The private system would not survive unless it offers something "better" that people are willing to pay for.

Something has been left out of the story here.

I certainly mean no offense to the good people of Australia. I'm sure that if I were to visit there and need health care, that I could receive excellent care there. It's just that the post I quoted obviously was not telling the whole story.

[Spidey's mom]

Originally Posted by llg

If the public system services are just as good as those in the private system ... then why would anyone choose to go the private route? That makes no sense. There must be some benefits to being a private paying patient or else no one would choose to pay the money. The private system would not survive unless it offers something "better" that people are willing to pay for.

Something has been left out of the story here.

I certainly mean no offense to the good people of Australia. I'm sure that if I were to visit there and need health care, that I could receive excellent care there. It's just that the post I quoted obviously was not telling the whole story.

If you have your own private insurance, do you still pay 50% tax rate? Because that wouldn't be fair.

(I'm tired tonight - it is probably in Nyapa's post or as obvious as the nose on my face).

steph

[Grace Oz]

Originally Posted by llg

If the public system services are just as good as those in the private system ... then why would anyone choose to go the private route? That makes no sense. There must be some benefits to being a private paying patient or else no one would choose to pay the money. The private system would not survive unless it offers something "better" that people are willing to pay for.

Something has been left out of the story here.

I certainly mean no offense to the good people of Australia. I'm sure that if I were to visit there and need health care, that I could receive excellent care there. It's just that the post I quoted obviously was not telling the whole story.

With private cover the patient can choose their own specialist, doctor, hospital (usually, depends if the insurance company has an agreement -preferred provider-with the particular hospital), etc.
Also, with private cover, the patient doesn't have to wait on a list for elective surgery. They do with the public system.

In the public system, you are allocated whoever is on duty or whoever is the consultant for that department.
But, as Nyapa stated, the private consultants also operate/serve in the public system. So, the patient gets the best either way.

And yes, you certainly would receive the best care in the world in an Australian hospital!

You might like to enlighten yourself further about our Medicare system ...............
http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/

[Grace Oz]

Originally Posted by stevielynn

If you have your own private insurance, do you still pay 50% tax rate? Because that wouldn't be fair.

(I'm tired tonight - it is probably in Nyapa's post or as obvious as the nose on my face).

steph

G'day steph,

Even if a person has private cover, they still pay the Medicare levy via their taxes.
People with private cover are given a rebate from the federal government on their private health cover premuims.
For example: I've got top private hospital/Medical cover plus full ancillery's. The premium per month is $179.55. With the 30% government rebate of $53.90, it lowers the premium to $125.65 per month.
While this seems unfair to have to pay the medicare levy whilst paying the private health cover, receiving the rebate eases this somewhat. Ultimately, it's a personal choice to have, or not, private health/hospital insurance.
And...... I can also access the public system anytime I choose, and choose to be treated as either a private patient or a public patient!

Us Aussies think it's not too shabby really! Works for us!

NO person, and that INCLUDES people from OUTSIDE Australia, is ever denied treatment in an Australian hospital. EVER!!

Just ask the American man who visited here, got seriously ill and was ASTOUNDED at the MAGNIFICENT treatment he-(and his wife as an aside) -received without money even being mentioned!!! It was in our newspapers and he and his wife couldn't believe that his health was the FIRST priority!
I have no doubt he had most likely travel insurance and probably claimed on that and an arrangement was no doubt made with the hospital. However, that was not spoken of and the main factor was their disbelief and amazement at him and his health being the priority. He recovered and returned to America stating he would contact his government representative and inform him/her about what his experience had been here and lobby for the US to adopt our Australian health model.

Sooo......... I'm not at all surprised that this psychiatrist is endorsing our health system. It really IS the best in the world!

But then again ................ I'm a VERY biased and PROUD AUSSIE!!!