As Australia's universal healthcare scheme, Medicare, celebrates its 40th anniversary, new data reveals patients are increasingly avoiding visits to the doctor due to high appointment costs.
Key Points
- Medicare is Australia's universal health insurance scheme that allows all Australians, and some overseas visitors, access to a range of health and hospital services at low or no cost.
- A Productivity Commission report has revealed the number of people delaying or not attending appointments due to price has doubled - rising from 3.5 to seven per cent in 12 months.
- In November last year, the government tripled the bulk-billing incentive for doctors to encourage more G-P clinics to offer bulk-billing services.
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