Sick of paying full price at the doctor? A short drive could save you!
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Accessing affordable healthcare is becoming a growing concern for many Australians—especially those relying on bulk billing.
What used to be a routine doctor’s visit is now becoming a financial juggling act in some parts of the country.
A new report has revealed just how much location can determine your medical costs—and the findings are raising eyebrows.
Accessing a doctor in Brisbane had become increasingly difficult for many residents, with new data revealing a concerning gap in affordability—one largely dependent on where people lived.
A healthcare report from Cleanbill uncovered that patients in more than 70 per cent of Brisbane suburbs were no longer benefiting from bulk billing, instead footing the entire bill for GP appointments. This has left families and pensioners stretched thin as the cost of essential care continued to climb.
Some of the steepest out-of-pocket costs were reported in inner-city suburbs, where standard GP visits averaged well above the national average of $43.33.
Windsor topped the list at $60.48 per consultation, followed by Ashgrove at $58.65. Fortitude Valley and Clayfield weren’t far behind, charging $52.15 and $51.90, respectively.
Meanwhile, just a short drive away, patients were being charged considerably less. In Forest Lake, the average visit came in at $24.52—nearly half the national average. Similar trends were found in Acacia Ridge ($24.65), Browns Plains ($26.79), and Gatton ($29.05), offering a stark contrast to the fees in Brisbane’s inner suburbs.
Cleanbill founder and chief executive James Gillespie said: ‘When those clinics are located in suburbs that are more inner city, often the rent, the cost of labour, things like that, can be higher. And that can drive higher out-of-pocket costs.’
It wasn’t just the cost of care that raised concern, but the lack of transparency too. The report revealed that one in four GP clinics didn’t have a website, and among those that did, only 40 per cent published their prices—making it difficult for patients to make informed decisions.
‘That lack of transparency can trap patients into paying more simply because they don’t know there are cheaper options nearby,’ Gillespie explained.
For many, the rising fees were more than just inconvenient—they were becoming unmanageable. ‘I have so many bills all the time, it’s like swatting mosquitoes,’ one Windsor local shared.
Another patient in Inala added: ‘That’s why some of them are not going to the doctors. If they’ve got to pay $60 or $80 or $100.’
The report served as a sharp reminder of how something as fundamental as access to healthcare could vary dramatically from suburb to suburb—even when the distance between them was just a few minutes.
‘It’s one of the clearest examples of how where you live can shape your access to basic healthcare,’ Gillespie said.
From 1 November, changes to federal policy were expected to extend bulk billing to most adults. But until then, Brisbane locals were being urged to shop around—and even consider short trips to neighbouring suburbs—to avoid unnecessary costs that could add up to hundreds of dollars a year.
Many Australians are already feeling the pinch just trying to see a regular GP—but that’s not where the rising costs stop.
For those needing to see a medical specialist, the price hikes can be even more alarming.
Watch the full report to see what’s being done—and how it could affect you or your loved ones.
Source: Youtube/7NEWS Australia
With GP costs climbing and bulk billing harder to find, do you think accessing affordable healthcare has become more difficult in recent years? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we looked at concerns around rising medical bills and the troubling issue of price gouging by some healthcare professionals.
For seniors already feeling the squeeze from reduced bulk billing options, understanding where unfair pricing might be happening is more important than ever.
If you've noticed your medical costs creeping up, this one’s worth a read too.
Read more: Has your medical bills risen over the years? Report targets medical professionals engaging in price gouging
What used to be a routine doctor’s visit is now becoming a financial juggling act in some parts of the country.
A new report has revealed just how much location can determine your medical costs—and the findings are raising eyebrows.
Accessing a doctor in Brisbane had become increasingly difficult for many residents, with new data revealing a concerning gap in affordability—one largely dependent on where people lived.
A healthcare report from Cleanbill uncovered that patients in more than 70 per cent of Brisbane suburbs were no longer benefiting from bulk billing, instead footing the entire bill for GP appointments. This has left families and pensioners stretched thin as the cost of essential care continued to climb.
Some of the steepest out-of-pocket costs were reported in inner-city suburbs, where standard GP visits averaged well above the national average of $43.33.
Windsor topped the list at $60.48 per consultation, followed by Ashgrove at $58.65. Fortitude Valley and Clayfield weren’t far behind, charging $52.15 and $51.90, respectively.
Meanwhile, just a short drive away, patients were being charged considerably less. In Forest Lake, the average visit came in at $24.52—nearly half the national average. Similar trends were found in Acacia Ridge ($24.65), Browns Plains ($26.79), and Gatton ($29.05), offering a stark contrast to the fees in Brisbane’s inner suburbs.
Cleanbill founder and chief executive James Gillespie said: ‘When those clinics are located in suburbs that are more inner city, often the rent, the cost of labour, things like that, can be higher. And that can drive higher out-of-pocket costs.’
It wasn’t just the cost of care that raised concern, but the lack of transparency too. The report revealed that one in four GP clinics didn’t have a website, and among those that did, only 40 per cent published their prices—making it difficult for patients to make informed decisions.
‘That lack of transparency can trap patients into paying more simply because they don’t know there are cheaper options nearby,’ Gillespie explained.
For many, the rising fees were more than just inconvenient—they were becoming unmanageable. ‘I have so many bills all the time, it’s like swatting mosquitoes,’ one Windsor local shared.
Another patient in Inala added: ‘That’s why some of them are not going to the doctors. If they’ve got to pay $60 or $80 or $100.’
The report served as a sharp reminder of how something as fundamental as access to healthcare could vary dramatically from suburb to suburb—even when the distance between them was just a few minutes.
‘It’s one of the clearest examples of how where you live can shape your access to basic healthcare,’ Gillespie said.
From 1 November, changes to federal policy were expected to extend bulk billing to most adults. But until then, Brisbane locals were being urged to shop around—and even consider short trips to neighbouring suburbs—to avoid unnecessary costs that could add up to hundreds of dollars a year.
Many Australians are already feeling the pinch just trying to see a regular GP—but that’s not where the rising costs stop.
For those needing to see a medical specialist, the price hikes can be even more alarming.
Watch the full report to see what’s being done—and how it could affect you or your loved ones.
Source: Youtube/7NEWS Australia
With GP costs climbing and bulk billing harder to find, do you think accessing affordable healthcare has become more difficult in recent years? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
In a previous story, we looked at concerns around rising medical bills and the troubling issue of price gouging by some healthcare professionals.
For seniors already feeling the squeeze from reduced bulk billing options, understanding where unfair pricing might be happening is more important than ever.
If you've noticed your medical costs creeping up, this one’s worth a read too.
Read more: Has your medical bills risen over the years? Report targets medical professionals engaging in price gouging
