Under Malcolm Turnbull Australians are paying more than ever out of their own pocket to visit the doctor, with new figures showing out-of-pocket costs skyrocketing since Australians went to the polls last year.
At the same time, bulk billing for GPs is down in every state and territory from what it was at the election.
In the most recent quarterly report, the average out-of-pocket costs for visiting a doctor jumped 11% in only three months – up to a national average of $36.77. In some states and territories costs jumped by almost 14 per cent.
Shadow Minister for Health and Medicare Catherine King said that with Malcolm Turnbull’s Budget last week failing to act immediately, this will only get worse.
“On the day before the election Malcolm Turnbull promised that no Australian would pay more to visit the doctor – the Government’s own data is proof that this was a complete and utter lie,” Ms King said.
“He lied so he could win the election.
“Australians are seeing the impact of the Government’s freeze every time they go to the doctor with out-of-pocket costs higher than they have ever been.
“Despite this, Malcolm Turnbull still hasn’t done the right thing and dropped his freeze immediately. How much more will Australians have to pay before the Government’s freeze ends?
“Every day that the freeze continues is another day that Australians are paying more for their health.”
Percentage increase in out of pocket costs (March quarter compared with December quarter)
Out-of-pocket cost – non referred GP attendance March quarter | % increase from December 2016 quarter | |
Australia | 36.77 | 11.3 |
NSW | 36.22 | 13.5 |
VIC | 36.28 | 11.8 |
QLD | 37.24 | 11.0 |
SA | 31.35 | 6.6 |
WA | 39.14 | 9.4 |
TAS | 36.74 | 8.1 |
NT | 45.21 | 3.7 |
ACT | 44.22 | 13.9 |
Source – http://health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/Quarterly-Medicare-Statistics
MONDAY, 15 MAY 2017