In the age of social media, opinions are as plentiful as kangaroos in the Outback and just as likely to cause a stir when they hop into the wrong territory.

American E Jones found himself in a heated debate after challenging the notion that Australia's healthcare system is entirely free.

His comments sparked a wildfire of responses from Aussies who were quick to defend their healthcare model, but it also raises an important question: Is Australian healthcare truly free, or is there more to the story?

E Jones argued that Australians are misled into believing their healthcare is free when, in fact, it is funded by taxpayers.

'Only in Australia could I make a video complaining about the price of beer and be attacked by Australians being like "at least we've got free healthcare",' he said in a video online.

'Nothing is f*****g free.'

American E Jones slammed the ‘free’ Australian healthcare system. Credit: @e_jones34us / TikTok

He pointed out that the system has flaws, citing healthcare workers' strikes and dissatisfaction as evidence of mismanagement.

His remarks, while provocative, touch upon a fundamental aspect of any publicly funded service: it's not free in the sense that it magically appears without cost; it's paid for by the collective contributions of the country's citizens through taxes.

'If all these taxes that you're paying is supposed to be going to that "free" healthcare, somebody has mismanaged [it] drastically,' he said.

'I've seen several cars where nurses want to go on strike, and I've seen the f*****g ambulance riding around with their f*****g windows drawn on about how they're treated.'

E Jones’ video received comments from Aussies, claiming he didn’t understand Australia’s healthcare system.

‘You [the United States] charge $8,000 per 12 hours in emergency. We pay $0. You lose,' one person commented.

'Our minimum wage is triple yours. We have compulsory superannuation, we get paid sick and 4 weeks annual leave. I think we good,' another wrote.

'Our healthcare system is way better than the US. Taxes are an important way to look after society, I don't mind paying tax to have healthcare for our country,' a third added.

Another Aussie shared that basic health services in Australia are more affordable than in the US.

'When I was in America, it cost me AUD $350 to see a doctor and get an asthma inhaler because they aren’t over the counter compared with [Australia] where I pay $9 at a chemist,' the commenter wrote.

'You're also not a citizen, so yeah, you would pay more,' E Jones replied.

Now, let's dive into the Australian healthcare system.

Medicare was introduced by Bob Hawke's government in 1984, which covers some or all of the costs of necessary health care, including GP visits that bulk bill, specialist consultations, and a range of prescription medicines through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

The system ensures that essential medical services are accessible and affordable for Australian and New Zealand citizens and permanent residents.

The funding for Medicare comes from the Medicare Levy, which is currently set at two per cent of taxable income, with reductions and exemptions available under certain conditions.

Comparatively, the United States operates a mixed healthcare system and does not provide universal coverage.

For instance, treatments for a broken leg can cost up to USD $7,500, and a three-day hospital stay can potentially cost around USD $30,000.

On the other hand, Australians benefit from a system in which even privately insured patients can claim up to 75 per cent of the cost of their treatment and surgery through the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

You can watch E Jones’ video below:

Credit: @e_jones34us / TikTok​

Speaking of healthcare, Australians are yet to receive more healthcare benefits in the 2024-25 federal budget.

In a previous story, the federal budget announced a freeze on the cost of prescription medications listed on PBS. You can read more about the announcement here.

Key Takeaways

• An American has been criticised by Australians for questioning the 'free' nature of Australia's healthcare system.
• He pointed out that the healthcare costs are covered by taxpayers and highlighted issues with healthcare worker pay and conditions.
• Australians responded by praising their Medicare system, which provides universal healthcare funded through taxes, and comparing it favourably with the US system.
• The Medicare system, introduced in 1984, offers access to GPs, specialists, and prescription medicines, with costs subsidised by the nationally imposed Medicare Levy.

Do you consider the Medicare system a fair trade-off for the taxes you pay? Have you had experiences with healthcare that reinforce the value of our system or perhaps suggest areas for improvement? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

 

[Tervueren]

We are very lucky living in Australia with our Health system. No one here should ever complain! Travel overseas and see how you fare if you become sick and need hospitalisation and the amount it will cost you! We are Blessed with our system and should be grateful.

 

[marni]

The waiting times in the emergency department are over the top. Today I read that someone
actually fronted up with a broken nail, another with a slight scraped knee. We need to sort out where these minor incidents go, they should pay the same as in a doctors surgery to stop them clogging up hospitals. The fact that we pay Medicare levy is a good thing as all taxpayers should benefit

 

[Pommyoz]

I dislike the triage system, where a nurse decides whether you are really sick or not by watching you in casualty. I had excruciating chest and rib cage pains. Had a letter from my doctor after I was rushed to the surgery from work. My age was 72, and any movement made me cry out in pain. Because of that, I sat very still. But it was my downfall, I waited from 3.00pm till 11.30pm to be seen because I was considered non emergency! The doctor put me on bed rest for a week, while medication helped with the pain. Maybe I should carry a bottle of red liquid and splash it around my head!

 

[Tactful]

Hold your horses. Medicare IS NOT FREE, when working we pay a Medicare Levy to help fund our so called FREE health care. If you pay tax you can bet tour botton dollar o are paying a medicare levy.
Aside from the ever growing waiting times for non-urgent surgery, that is everything that does not need a surgical treatment on coming through emergency, the wait times in emergency depatments, (this I do not get, go to your GP), the only plus is no bill on discharge for any services or if using outpatients .
If you don't want to wait use your private health insurance.

 

[Penny4]

Is he kidding??
American employers are the ones that pay a huge % for their employee's health insurance. Their only free hospital care is the emergency department. Health insurance is absolutely imperative in the USA.

 

[Winks]

I would never complain about our health system. We are very lucky in this country. Too many people still going to emergency departments for treatment that could be provided in a clinic though.

 

[marni]

Hold your horses. Medicare IS NOT FREE, when working we pay a Medicare Levy to help fund our so called FREE health care. If you pay tax you can bet tour botton dollar o are paying a medicare levy.
Aside from the ever growing waiting times for non-urgent surgery, that is everything that does not need a surgical treatment on coming through emergency, the wait times in emergency depatments, (this I do not get, go to your GP), the only plus is no bill on discharge for any services or if using outpatients .
If you don't want to wait use your private health insurance.

It’s called emergency for a reason!!!! Not get a Band-Aid

 

[Colette 3799]

I can’t understand why people go straight to emergency for the slightest thing. It’s a place I prefer to avoid if I can.

 

[grundig]

He is right, Nothing is free someone has to pay.
Very few bulk billing GPs now. Visits cost 1/2 medicare pays the other.
It is wise to take out health insurance if travelling out of the country.
Out of hrs emergency hubs are a waste of money, they are open for short hrs, then where do they go? up to emergency.
The sensible thing to do, would be to employ rotating GPs to an area within the hospital, to deal with the non urgent cases. It has been done here before
June

 

[Tervueren]

I can’t understand why people go straight to emergency for the slightest thing. It’s a place I prefer to avoid if I can.

I agree with you Colette 3799, the number of people who clog up the Emergency Department is crazy. The fact that many are left without proper treatment and suffer from emergency issues is alarming. This constitutes a significant part of the problem and creates complications for everyone involved.

 

[Rob44]

We are very lucky living in Australia with our Health system. No one here should ever complain! Travel overseas and see how you fare if you become sick and need hospitalisation and the amount it will cost you! We are Blessed with our system and should be grateful.

I was lucky to have been brought up in Pomgolia when the National Health Service worked very well and was well in advance of that in NZ and OZ. That was before the Tories, led by Thatcher started wrecking everything they couldn't sell to their little mates. As for the USA's health set-up; useless, but the USA does do excellent biomedical research using their own people, Chinese, Indians etc etc etc which Australia seems incapable of.

 

[Rob44]

I can’t understand why people go straight to emergency for the slightest thing. It’s a place I prefer to avoid if I can.

$210 for a 15-minute conversation at our GP's clinic?

 

[Knell]

$210 for a 15-minute conversation at our GP's clinic?

$210?? M-F 8am to 5pm - out of pocket $48.60 here.
Still, Emergency Hospital is for emergencies...not a 15min chat about hemorrhoids or such.

 

[zevon1956]

He's right. $8000 for 12 hours in emergency in the USA? Probably about the same here. Difference is the taxpayer picks up the tab in Oz. The other issue is that health care is perceived as "free" which encourages people to use or overuse as a sense of entitlement rather than need. Using ambulance services as a taxi service is one example.

 

[relljube]

I agree with you Colette 3799, the number of people who clog up the Emergency Department is crazy. The fact that many are left without proper treatment and suffer from emergency issues is alarming. This constitutes a significant part of the problem and creates complications for everyone involved.

1 way to fix this - all non-urgent treatment to be paid for on the spot. This will stop the malingers who clog up the system and deny urgent help for those requiring it. Useless advertising has had not effect, but a slug to the pocket would soon sort them out.

 

[Gsr]

While ever there are such large out of pocket expenses to see a GP there will always be a long procession of people with or without a medical issue needing/wanting to see a Dr sitting in out patient departments. Even working people on good wages can’t afford to visit the GP if they have a chronic health issue requiring lots of Dr visits. Also because so many people can’t get an appointment at a Dr surgery they have no alternative other than hospital out patient departments. It is a sad reflection on our governments that even with a taxpayer funded health care system people can’t afford to seek the medical care they need other than in out patient departments.

 

[Rob44]

$210?? M-F 8am to 5pm - out of pocket $48.60 here.
Still, Emergency Hospital is for emergencies...not a 15min chat about hemorrhoids or such.

$48.60 out of pocket? Not according to my wife who paid the bill. It was a bit more than a "mere" $48.60. Nor was about haemorrhoids, but for something a little more serious. Yes; I have seen more than enough of the ED about certain problems and waiting in acute pain, that a GP could do nothing about, for 6 hours on a hard plastic chair is not at all funny.

He's right. $8000 for 12 hours in emergency in the USA? Probably about the same here. Difference is the taxpayer picks up the tab in Oz. The other issue is that health care is perceived as "free" which encourages people to use or overuse as a sense of entitlement rather than need. Using ambulance services as a taxi service is one example.

My my my. We are self-righteous today. With three generations of my family having worked in three different health systems I would suggest that you might be prejudiced. Health is a community issue and therefore the community should pay. FULL STOP. If I am lucky enough to have lived the first 70 years of my life healthily, paying taxes so that the less fortunate and less well-off get decent "free"health-care, so be it. Australia is a society, not a bunch of rugged individualists all carving their way ruggedly through life at the expense of others.

 

[Rob44]

1 way to fix this - all non-urgent treatment to be paid for on the spot. This will stop the malingers who clog up the system and deny urgent help for those requiring it. Useless advertising has had not effect, but a slug to the pocket would soon sort them out.

Followed by a thoroughly decent flogging with the cat o' nine tail.........50 lashes, at least...........

 

[Knell]

$48.60 out of pocket? Not according to my wife who paid the bill. It was a bit more than a "mere" $48.60. Nor was about haemorrhoids, but for something a little more serious. Yes; I have seen more than enough of the ED about certain problems and waiting in acute pain, that a GP could do nothing about, for 6 hours on a hard plastic chair is not at all funny.

My my my. We are self-righteous today. With three generations of my family having worked in three different health systems I would suggest that you might be prejudiced. Health is a community issue and therefore the community should pay. FULL STOP. If I am lucky enough to have lived the first 70 years of my life healthily, paying taxes so that the less fortunate and less well-off get decent "free"health-care, so be it. Australia is a society, not a bunch of rugged individualists all carving their way ruggedly through life at the expense of others.

I only know the cost for local GPs in my area and that is the out of pocket cost. I was not suggesting the haemorrhoids was about you, just saying the problems are largely caused by the like and including those companies that insist on a sick certificate for 1 day off work. Yes it is best that healthcare is affordable for all - just like anything that is free however- it most certainly is abused and the cause of backlogs for all related services.