American faces backlash for attacking Australians on healthcare: ‘Nothing is free’
- Replies 36
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.'
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.
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!
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.
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