Aussie laments the state of healthcare, says mental health has worsened due to rising cost
Under Medicare, healthcare, including mental health services, is supposed to be available to all Australians. But what happens if it becomes financially challenging to access?
One Aussie took it to Reddit - a popular social website - to vent about their situation. The GP clinic they attend recently switched from bulk billing to gap billing with barely any notice. This means they now have to fork over cash just to see a GP. Unfortunately, this is a semi-regular occurrence.
‘I can't even see a psychologist without having to fork out $130 in gap fees after already spending $40 gap fee on a GP appointment. I can't see a psychiatrist without spending $400 in gap fees to get the care I need.’
‘What the f*** happened to this country?’
The Aussie also pointed out that those struggling with mental health issues cannot afford the services they need.
Paying has become a source of worry: ‘My mental health has worsened from seeking care because it costs so much. It's become another stress.’
Many Aussie Redditors supported the original poster, saying that the system needs to change. One user said: ‘I hate that it has to get to this point before people notice… Medicare is even a watered-down version of the healthcare system originally proposed. Since its inception, it has always been under threat. We need urgent changes, not only in public policy but in the priorities of the public itself, if public healthcare is to remain a thing.’
Another shared what they thought was the cause of ballooning health expenses: ‘40 years of being told tax cuts are great, who needs public health when you can spend $1500-2000 per month on repayments for your $100,000 car instead, combined with the loopholes in corporate tax ensuring billions don't get paid, and the minerals council ensuring they can loot our resources without appropriate tax or royalties. People don't value free health care until they really need it.’
However, some felt it wasn’t right to blame ordinary citizens: ‘I don’t think it’s fair to put it on the average Joe. A quarter of my wage goes to tax. Corporations and the wealthy are dodging it with loopholes and gaining tax cuts…’
Others thought they should be getting more for their taxes: ‘We pay way too much tax for the public services we get back. I have no issue with taxes, but they need to be used to provide services back to the community! I feel like I'm being robbed of a third of my wage only for the government to give it to private business and waste it breaking deals with other countries. It's f****** despicable.’
‘Exactly. I have no problem paying all of these taxes, fees and excises if we had proper nationally funded health, education and infrastructure,’ another Redditor agreed.
Some Redditors who work in the health sector offered another perspective, however. Some emphasised how hard it is for clinics, especially since the pandemic: ‘The clinic where I work has had to really start cracking down on no longer bulk billing patients who do not have a concession card. We are really struggling to keep afloat now after being open for 40 years and being privately owned, specialising in specific health areas.
‘During COVID lockdown, we had to bulk bill everyone and it hit us hard. We lost a number of our doctors who retired or switched careers due to burnout.
‘We are at the point now where we cannot survive if we keep bulk billing all patients, and it sucks, for both sides.’
A psychiatrist also chimed in: ‘GPs are all steering away from purely bulk billing as they make barely $40 an hour these days as the Medicare rebate hasn’t increased in over a decade. Most actively avoid mental health consults as they lose money with the time it takes to complete a mental health care plan.’
They said clinicians were forced to leave public health because of burnout and work conditions that do not meet unions’ minimum requirements. As a result, those who remain are overwhelmed with new clients and a waiting list that keeps on growing.
‘I work as a psychiatry doctor in a public (free, bulk billed) clinic accepting referrals from GPs for an assessment and management plan. The current wait list is about 12 months and growing. I can’t chip away at it month by month it’s getting longer. It’s no longer sustainable and this clinic (which started as a passion project) will probably close in the near future because it’s taking away from my actual salaried job. This clinic loses money for my employer, even with Medicare reimbursement,’ they added.
In May, the government claimed that GP bulk billing rates were at 88%. However, this referred to the percentage of services bulk billed by GPs, instead of the patients who benefited from it.
Experts have contested the data, especially with incorrect billings and Australians forced to pay out-of-pocket for health services.
Speaking with The Guardian, Consumers Health Forum Chief Executive Leanne Wells said: ‘The rates don’t reflect people’s experience when they find it hard or impossible to find a bulk billing doctor.’
The non-profit organisation, working with Macquarie University, also found that 14% of Australians with chronic health conditions could not pay for healthcare and medication costs. Meanwhile, 30% were not confident they could afford the care required if they become seriously ill.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has been vocal in encouraging GPs to move from bulk billing so their income doesn’t depend on the government. David King, a senior lecturer in general practice from the University of Queensland, noted in The Conversation that Medicare, meant to make private GPs accessible, has failed to keep up with inflation in the health sector.
Doctors have been appealing for changes, saying that the rebate system could collapse soon. Watch an Aussie physician discuss this further on 9 News Australia:
We at SDC believe that all Australians should have access to quality healthcare. Have you experienced difficulties finding bulk billing doctors and clinics? How do you think this is affecting Australian healthcare? We’d love to hear about your experiences with the healthcare sector.
One Aussie took it to Reddit - a popular social website - to vent about their situation. The GP clinic they attend recently switched from bulk billing to gap billing with barely any notice. This means they now have to fork over cash just to see a GP. Unfortunately, this is a semi-regular occurrence.
‘I can't even see a psychologist without having to fork out $130 in gap fees after already spending $40 gap fee on a GP appointment. I can't see a psychiatrist without spending $400 in gap fees to get the care I need.’
‘What the f*** happened to this country?’
The Aussie also pointed out that those struggling with mental health issues cannot afford the services they need.
Paying has become a source of worry: ‘My mental health has worsened from seeking care because it costs so much. It's become another stress.’
Many Aussie Redditors supported the original poster, saying that the system needs to change. One user said: ‘I hate that it has to get to this point before people notice… Medicare is even a watered-down version of the healthcare system originally proposed. Since its inception, it has always been under threat. We need urgent changes, not only in public policy but in the priorities of the public itself, if public healthcare is to remain a thing.’
Another shared what they thought was the cause of ballooning health expenses: ‘40 years of being told tax cuts are great, who needs public health when you can spend $1500-2000 per month on repayments for your $100,000 car instead, combined with the loopholes in corporate tax ensuring billions don't get paid, and the minerals council ensuring they can loot our resources without appropriate tax or royalties. People don't value free health care until they really need it.’
However, some felt it wasn’t right to blame ordinary citizens: ‘I don’t think it’s fair to put it on the average Joe. A quarter of my wage goes to tax. Corporations and the wealthy are dodging it with loopholes and gaining tax cuts…’
Others thought they should be getting more for their taxes: ‘We pay way too much tax for the public services we get back. I have no issue with taxes, but they need to be used to provide services back to the community! I feel like I'm being robbed of a third of my wage only for the government to give it to private business and waste it breaking deals with other countries. It's f****** despicable.’
‘Exactly. I have no problem paying all of these taxes, fees and excises if we had proper nationally funded health, education and infrastructure,’ another Redditor agreed.
Some Redditors who work in the health sector offered another perspective, however. Some emphasised how hard it is for clinics, especially since the pandemic: ‘The clinic where I work has had to really start cracking down on no longer bulk billing patients who do not have a concession card. We are really struggling to keep afloat now after being open for 40 years and being privately owned, specialising in specific health areas.
‘During COVID lockdown, we had to bulk bill everyone and it hit us hard. We lost a number of our doctors who retired or switched careers due to burnout.
‘We are at the point now where we cannot survive if we keep bulk billing all patients, and it sucks, for both sides.’
A psychiatrist also chimed in: ‘GPs are all steering away from purely bulk billing as they make barely $40 an hour these days as the Medicare rebate hasn’t increased in over a decade. Most actively avoid mental health consults as they lose money with the time it takes to complete a mental health care plan.’
They said clinicians were forced to leave public health because of burnout and work conditions that do not meet unions’ minimum requirements. As a result, those who remain are overwhelmed with new clients and a waiting list that keeps on growing.
‘I work as a psychiatry doctor in a public (free, bulk billed) clinic accepting referrals from GPs for an assessment and management plan. The current wait list is about 12 months and growing. I can’t chip away at it month by month it’s getting longer. It’s no longer sustainable and this clinic (which started as a passion project) will probably close in the near future because it’s taking away from my actual salaried job. This clinic loses money for my employer, even with Medicare reimbursement,’ they added.
In May, the government claimed that GP bulk billing rates were at 88%. However, this referred to the percentage of services bulk billed by GPs, instead of the patients who benefited from it.
Experts have contested the data, especially with incorrect billings and Australians forced to pay out-of-pocket for health services.
Speaking with The Guardian, Consumers Health Forum Chief Executive Leanne Wells said: ‘The rates don’t reflect people’s experience when they find it hard or impossible to find a bulk billing doctor.’
The non-profit organisation, working with Macquarie University, also found that 14% of Australians with chronic health conditions could not pay for healthcare and medication costs. Meanwhile, 30% were not confident they could afford the care required if they become seriously ill.
The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has been vocal in encouraging GPs to move from bulk billing so their income doesn’t depend on the government. David King, a senior lecturer in general practice from the University of Queensland, noted in The Conversation that Medicare, meant to make private GPs accessible, has failed to keep up with inflation in the health sector.
Doctors have been appealing for changes, saying that the rebate system could collapse soon. Watch an Aussie physician discuss this further on 9 News Australia:
We at SDC believe that all Australians should have access to quality healthcare. Have you experienced difficulties finding bulk billing doctors and clinics? How do you think this is affecting Australian healthcare? We’d love to hear about your experiences with the healthcare sector.