With the rising costs of living these days, just mere survival is hard, especially for retirees, pensioners and seniors. For many, life has become a financial struggle to make ends meet and pay for the various medical bills that come with ageing.

A heart-wrenching example of this can be found in Paul Bevington, a pensioner who skips dinner three times a week to make seven days' worth of groceries last a fortnight.

He does this while living with several chronic health conditions that require him to visit the doctor multiple times each year.

To make matters worse, medical appointments are another worry for him. 'Sometimes I think the only thing keeping me going is the love of my dog, Possum,' he said. 'I'll go hungry before I make her go hungry.'

Pensioners and workers are struggling to survive without access to bulk-billed medical services. Credit: Pexels/Matthias Zomer.

Unfortunately, Mr Bevington is also struggling to find a general practitioner (GP) who will bulk bill his medical appointments in his hometown of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory. Due to the absence of bulk billing options, he pays a gap of $51 for each visit, making it even harder for him to stretch his pension.

Such burdensome costs force him to restrict his budget on groceries and fuel, leading to a life that is mostly confined within four walls, which significantly affects his mental and emotional well-being.

'At the moment, when you're basically stuck in four walls, you tend to go...stir crazy,' he said. 'And that's about where I'm getting.'

For this very reason, the 2023-4 Federal Budget announced a new measure intending to encourage more doctors to provide free healthcare to those who hold concession cards, under 16-year-olds, and pensioners like Mr Bevington. It aims to do this by tripling the 'bulk billing incentive' – the amount of money the government pays GPs to bulk bill their services.

Regions like Alice Springs, where the operational costs of running a GP clinic are relatively higher, are among those expected to witness the greatest impact, according to Dr Sam Heard, the NT Faculty chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

Dr Heard mentioned that there are no more bulk-billing GPs left in Alice Springs, except for a few specialist Indigenous primary health services. The increased costs of operating in such remote locations make it challenging for GPs to bulk bill their services without facing significant financial troubles.

Nevertheless, the new measure may potentially change that, compensating GPs for the income lost by not charging a gap fee. However, Dr Heard also warned that this measure could make it more cumbersome for non-pension or concession card holders to find bulk billing doctors.

'It's less likely that you will be bulk billed if you're employed now because the GP will be paid the least for somebody who can afford to pay […] so as a GP, it's obviously going to be quite a hit on your pocket if you bulk bill people who don't have a health care card,' he said.

​

Take, for instance, Mark Black from Darwin, who is struggling to afford regular appointments for his diabetes medication, despite working full time. He doesn't hold a pension or concession card and has even gone without medicine due to a lack of funds.

'It's a bit scary. It means I wonder, “Is it going to kill me?”’ he said. 'That's the worst-case scenario, I suppose.'

Dr Heard encouraged people who are in a similar position as Mr Black to apply for a healthcare card if they're receiving income support or consider putting the cost on a credit card.

Key Takeaways

• The federal budget introduced a measure to triple the bulk billing incentive, aiming to encourage doctors to provide free healthcare to pensioners, concession card holders, and individuals under 16.
• However, this may make it more challenging for workers without these benefits to find bulk-billing doctors, as GPs would be paid less for providing services to those who can afford to pay.
• This puts pensioners and workers, who struggle to afford regular medical appointments, at risk of not receiving necessary healthcare due to financial constraints.

These stories serve as a stark reminder of the genuine challenges confronted by our pensioners and workers when it comes to accessing bulk-billed medical services throughout Australia.

Have you or someone you know experienced similar difficulties? Perhaps you've found yourself in a situation where you had to switch doctors in search of bulk billing options. We encourage you to leave your comments below and share your own stories and experiences – we look forward to hearing from you.

 

[Glo72]

My Doctor bulk bills us because we are over 60. He works in a practice where there are 5 doctors. My eldest daughter and her husband who both have significant health issues have to pay to see their doctor,they are only 55 years old. Our youngest daughter,who is 47,has to pay also. She is our full time carer. We all know of someone who is on a concession card that cannot afford to see a doctor and it is wrong.

 

[pascoevale]

With the rising costs of living these days, just mere survival is hard, especially for retirees, pensioners and seniors. For many, life has become a financial struggle to make ends meet and pay for the various medical bills that come with ageing.

A heart-wrenching example of this can be found in Paul Bevington, a pensioner who skips dinner three times a week to make seven days' worth of groceries last a fortnight.

He does this while living with several chronic health conditions that require him to visit the doctor multiple times each year.

To make matters worse, medical appointments are another worry for him. 'Sometimes I think the only thing keeping me going is the love of my dog, Possum,' he said. 'I'll go hungry before I make her go hungry.'

View attachment 20368

Pensioners and workers are struggling to survive without access to bulk-billed medical services. Credit: Pexels/Matthias Zomer.

Unfortunately, Mr Bevington is also struggling to find a general practitioner (GP) who will bulk bill his medical appointments in his hometown of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory. Due to the absence of bulk billing options, he pays a gap of $51 for each visit, making it even harder for him to stretch his pension.

Such burdensome costs force him to restrict his budget on groceries and fuel, leading to a life that is mostly confined within four walls, which significantly affects his mental and emotional well-being.

'At the moment, when you're basically stuck in four walls, you tend to go...stir crazy,' he said. 'And that's about where I'm getting.'

For this very reason, the 2023-4 Federal Budget announced a new measure intending to encourage more doctors to provide free healthcare to those who hold concession cards, under 16-year-olds, and pensioners like Mr Bevington. It aims to do this by tripling the 'bulk billing incentive' – the amount of money the government pays GPs to bulk bill their services.

Regions like Alice Springs, where the operational costs of running a GP clinic are relatively higher, are among those expected to witness the greatest impact, according to Dr Sam Heard, the NT Faculty chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

Dr Heard mentioned that there are no more bulk-billing GPs left in Alice Springs, except for a few specialist Indigenous primary health services. The increased costs of operating in such remote locations make it challenging for GPs to bulk bill their services without facing significant financial troubles.

Nevertheless, the new measure may potentially change that, compensating GPs for the income lost by not charging a gap fee. However, Dr Heard also warned that this measure could make it more cumbersome for non-pension or concession card holders to find bulk billing doctors.

'It's less likely that you will be bulk billed if you're employed now because the GP will be paid the least for somebody who can afford to pay […] so as a GP, it's obviously going to be quite a hit on your pocket if you bulk bill people who don't have a health care card,' he said.

​

Take, for instance, Mark Black from Darwin, who is struggling to afford regular appointments for his diabetes medication, despite working full time. He doesn't hold a pension or concession card and has even gone without medicine due to a lack of funds.

'It's a bit scary. It means I wonder, “Is it going to kill me?”’ he said. 'That's the worst-case scenario, I suppose.'

Dr Heard encouraged people who are in a similar position as Mr Black to apply for a healthcare card if they're receiving income support or consider putting the cost on a credit card.

Key Takeaways

• The federal budget introduced a measure to triple the bulk billing incentive, aiming to encourage doctors to provide free healthcare to pensioners, concession card holders, and individuals under 16.
• However, this may make it more challenging for workers without these benefits to find bulk-billing doctors, as GPs would be paid less for providing services to those who can afford to pay.
• This puts pensioners and workers, who struggle to afford regular medical appointments, at risk of not receiving necessary healthcare due to financial constraints.

These stories serve as a stark reminder of the genuine challenges confronted by our pensioners and workers when it comes to accessing bulk-billed medical services throughout Australia.

Have you or someone you know experienced similar difficulties? Perhaps you've found yourself in a situation where you had to switch doctors in search of bulk billing options. We encourage you to leave your comments below and share your own stories and experiences – we look forward to hearing from you.

This. Is great news for pensioners the. trouble is doctors and practices rooting the system if your. making a quick appointment say for only a script or test results it’s full charge say for 2-3 mins a time and you get three patients done in time frame for 1 your making a lot also charging for long consults and doing and patient only rec short consuslt the list goes on and it does happen reason for Medicare to cut back

With the rising costs of living these days, just mere survival is hard, especially for retirees, pensioners and seniors. For many, life has become a financial struggle to make ends meet and pay for the various medical bills that come with ageing.

A heart-wrenching example of this can be found in Paul Bevington, a pensioner who skips dinner three times a week to make seven days' worth of groceries last a fortnight.

He does this while living with several chronic health conditions that require him to visit the doctor multiple times each year.

To make matters worse, medical appointments are another worry for him. 'Sometimes I think the only thing keeping me going is the love of my dog, Possum,' he said. 'I'll go hungry before I make her go hungry.'

View attachment 20368

Pensioners and workers are struggling to survive without access to bulk-billed medical services. Credit: Pexels/Matthias Zomer.

Unfortunately, Mr Bevington is also struggling to find a general practitioner (GP) who will bulk bill his medical appointments in his hometown of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory. Due to the absence of bulk billing options, he pays a gap of $51 for each visit, making it even harder for him to stretch his pension.

Such burdensome costs force him to restrict his budget on groceries and fuel, leading to a life that is mostly confined within four walls, which significantly affects his mental and emotional well-being.

'At the moment, when you're basically stuck in four walls, you tend to go...stir crazy,' he said. 'And that's about where I'm getting.'

For this very reason, the 2023-4 Federal Budget announced a new measure intending to encourage more doctors to provide free healthcare to those who hold concession cards, under 16-year-olds, and pensioners like Mr Bevington. It aims to do this by tripling the 'bulk billing incentive' – the amount of money the government pays GPs to bulk bill their services.

Regions like Alice Springs, where the operational costs of running a GP clinic are relatively higher, are among those expected to witness the greatest impact, according to Dr Sam Heard, the NT Faculty chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

Dr Heard mentioned that there are no more bulk-billing GPs left in Alice Springs, except for a few specialist Indigenous primary health services. The increased costs of operating in such remote locations make it challenging for GPs to bulk bill their services without facing significant financial troubles.

Nevertheless, the new measure may potentially change that, compensating GPs for the income lost by not charging a gap fee. However, Dr Heard also warned that this measure could make it more cumbersome for non-pension or concession card holders to find bulk billing doctors.

'It's less likely that you will be bulk billed if you're employed now because the GP will be paid the least for somebody who can afford to pay […] so as a GP, it's obviously going to be quite a hit on your pocket if you bulk bill people who don't have a health care card,' he said.

​

Take, for instance, Mark Black from Darwin, who is struggling to afford regular appointments for his diabetes medication, despite working full time. He doesn't hold a pension or concession card and has even gone without medicine due to a lack of funds.

'It's a bit scary. It means I wonder, “Is it going to kill me?”’ he said. 'That's the worst-case scenario, I suppose.'

Dr Heard encouraged people who are in a similar position as Mr Black to apply for a healthcare card if they're receiving income support or consider putting the cost on a credit card.

Key Takeaways

• The federal budget introduced a measure to triple the bulk billing incentive, aiming to encourage doctors to provide free healthcare to pensioners, concession card holders, and individuals under 16.
• However, this may make it more challenging for workers without these benefits to find bulk-billing doctors, as GPs would be paid less for providing services to those who can afford to pay.
• This puts pensioners and workers, who struggle to afford regular medical appointments, at risk of not receiving necessary healthcare due to financial constraints.

These stories serve as a stark reminder of the genuine challenges confronted by our pensioners and workers when it comes to accessing bulk-billed medical services throughout Australia.

Have you or someone you know experienced similar difficulties? Perhaps you've found yourself in a situation where you had to switch doctors in search of bulk billing options. We encourage you to leave your comments below and share your own stories and experiences – we look forward to hearing from y

With the rising costs of living these days, just mere survival is hard, especially for retirees, pensioners and seniors. For many, life has become a financial struggle to make ends meet and pay for the various medical bills that come with ageing.

A heart-wrenching example of this can be found in Paul Bevington, a pensioner who skips dinner three times a week to make seven days' worth of groceries last a fortnight.

He does this while living with several chronic health conditions that require him to visit the doctor multiple times each year.

To make matters worse, medical appointments are another worry for him. 'Sometimes I think the only thing keeping me going is the love of my dog, Possum,' he said. 'I'll go hungry before I make her go hungry.'

View attachment 20368

Pensioners and workers are struggling to survive without access to bulk-billed medical services. Credit: Pexels/Matthias Zomer.

Unfortunately, Mr Bevington is also struggling to find a general practitioner (GP) who will bulk bill his medical appointments in his hometown of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory. Due to the absence of bulk billing options, he pays a gap of $51 for each visit, making it even harder for him to stretch his pension.

Such burdensome costs force him to restrict his budget on groceries and fuel, leading to a life that is mostly confined within four walls, which significantly affects his mental and emotional well-being.

'At the moment, when you're basically stuck in four walls, you tend to go...stir crazy,' he said. 'And that's about where I'm getting.'

For this very reason, the 2023-4 Federal Budget announced a new measure intending to encourage more doctors to provide free healthcare to those who hold concession cards, under 16-year-olds, and pensioners like Mr Bevington. It aims to do this by tripling the 'bulk billing incentive' – the amount of money the government pays GPs to bulk bill their services.

Regions like Alice Springs, where the operational costs of running a GP clinic are relatively higher, are among those expected to witness the greatest impact, according to Dr Sam Heard, the NT Faculty chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

Dr Heard mentioned that there are no more bulk-billing GPs left in Alice Springs, except for a few specialist Indigenous primary health services. The increased costs of operating in such remote locations make it challenging for GPs to bulk bill their services without facing significant financial troubles.

Nevertheless, the new measure may potentially change that, compensating GPs for the income lost by not charging a gap fee. However, Dr Heard also warned that this measure could make it more cumbersome for non-pension or concession card holders to find bulk billing doctors.

'It's less likely that you will be bulk billed if you're employed now because the GP will be paid the least for somebody who can afford to pay […] so as a GP, it's obviously going to be quite a hit on your pocket if you bulk bill people who don't have a health care card,' he said.

​

Take, for instance, Mark Black from Darwin, who is struggling to afford regular appointments for his diabetes medication, despite working full time. He doesn't hold a pension or concession card and has even gone without medicine due to a lack of funds.

'It's a bit scary. It means I wonder, “Is it going to kill me?”’ he said. 'That's the worst-case scenario, I suppose.'

Dr Heard encouraged people who are in a similar position as Mr Black to apply for a healthcare card if they're receiving income support or consider putting the cost on a credit card.

Key Takeaways

• The federal budget introduced a measure to triple the bulk billing incentive, aiming to encourage doctors to provide free healthcare to pensioners, concession card holders, and individuals under 16.
• However, this may make it more challenging for workers without these benefits to find bulk-billing doctors, as GPs would be paid less for providing services to those who can afford to pay.
• This puts pensioners and workers, who struggle to afford regular medical appointments, at risk of not receiving necessary healthcare due to financial constraints.

These stories serve as a stark reminder of the genuine challenges confronted by our pensioners and workers when it comes to accessing bulk-billed medical services throughout Australia.

Have you or someone you know experienced similar difficulties? Perhaps you've found yourself in a situation where you had to switch doctors in search of bulk billing options. We encourage you to leave your comments below and share your own stories and experiences – we look forward to hearing from you.

 

[pascoevale]

With the rising costs of living these days, just mere survival is hard, especially for retirees, pensioners and seniors. For many, life has become a financial struggle to make ends meet and pay for the various medical bills that come with ageing.

A heart-wrenching example of this can be found in Paul Bevington, a pensioner who skips dinner three times a week to make seven days' worth of groceries last a fortnight.

He does this while living with several chronic health conditions that require him to visit the doctor multiple times each year.

To make matters worse, medical appointments are another worry for him. 'Sometimes I think the only thing keeping me going is the love of my dog, Possum,' he said. 'I'll go hungry before I make her go hungry.'

View attachment 20368

Pensioners and workers are struggling to survive without access to bulk-billed medical services. Credit: Pexels/Matthias Zomer.

Unfortunately, Mr Bevington is also struggling to find a general practitioner (GP) who will bulk bill his medical appointments in his hometown of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory. Due to the absence of bulk billing options, he pays a gap of $51 for each visit, making it even harder for him to stretch his pension.

Such burdensome costs force him to restrict his budget on groceries and fuel, leading to a life that is mostly confined within four walls, which significantly affects his mental and emotional well-being.

'At the moment, when you're basically stuck in four walls, you tend to go...stir crazy,' he said. 'And that's about where I'm getting.'

For this very reason, the 2023-4 Federal Budget announced a new measure intending to encourage more doctors to provide free healthcare to those who hold concession cards, under 16-year-olds, and pensioners like Mr Bevington. It aims to do this by tripling the 'bulk billing incentive' – the amount of money the government pays GPs to bulk bill their services.

Regions like Alice Springs, where the operational costs of running a GP clinic are relatively higher, are among those expected to witness the greatest impact, according to Dr Sam Heard, the NT Faculty chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

Dr Heard mentioned that there are no more bulk-billing GPs left in Alice Springs, except for a few specialist Indigenous primary health services. The increased costs of operating in such remote locations make it challenging for GPs to bulk bill their services without facing significant financial troubles.

Nevertheless, the new measure may potentially change that, compensating GPs for the income lost by not charging a gap fee. However, Dr Heard also warned that this measure could make it more cumbersome for non-pension or concession card holders to find bulk billing doctors.

'It's less likely that you will be bulk billed if you're employed now because the GP will be paid the least for somebody who can afford to pay […] so as a GP, it's obviously going to be quite a hit on your pocket if you bulk bill people who don't have a health care card,' he said.

​

Take, for instance, Mark Black from Darwin, who is struggling to afford regular appointments for his diabetes medication, despite working full time. He doesn't hold a pension or concession card and has even gone without medicine due to a lack of funds.

'It's a bit scary. It means I wonder, “Is it going to kill me?”’ he said. 'That's the worst-case scenario, I suppose.'

Dr Heard encouraged people who are in a similar position as Mr Black to apply for a healthcare card if they're receiving income support or consider putting the cost on a credit card.

Key Takeaways

• The federal budget introduced a measure to triple the bulk billing incentive, aiming to encourage doctors to provide free healthcare to pensioners, concession card holders, and individuals under 16.
• However, this may make it more challenging for workers without these benefits to find bulk-billing doctors, as GPs would be paid less for providing services to those who can afford to pay.
• This puts pensioners and workers, who struggle to afford regular medical appointments, at risk of not receiving necessary healthcare due to financial constraints.

These stories serve as a stark reminder of the genuine challenges confronted by our pensioners and workers when it comes to accessing bulk-billed medical services throughout Australia.

Have you or someone you know experienced similar difficulties? Perhaps you've found yourself in a situation where you had to switch doctors in search of bulk billing options. We encourage you to leave your comments below and share your own stories and experiences – we look forward to hearing from you.

The rotting will begin again unless there is strict control

 

[Bikkie mum]

With the rising costs of living these days, just mere survival is hard, especially for retirees, pensioners and seniors. For many, life has become a financial struggle to make ends meet and pay for the various medical bills that come with ageing.

A heart-wrenching example of this can be found in Paul Bevington, a pensioner who skips dinner three times a week to make seven days' worth of groceries last a fortnight.

He does this while living with several chronic health conditions that require him to visit the doctor multiple times each year.

To make matters worse, medical appointments are another worry for him. 'Sometimes I think the only thing keeping me going is the love of my dog, Possum,' he said. 'I'll go hungry before I make her go hungry.'

View attachment 20368

Pensioners and workers are struggling to survive without access to bulk-billed medical services. Credit: Pexels/Matthias Zomer.

Unfortunately, Mr Bevington is also struggling to find a general practitioner (GP) who will bulk bill his medical appointments in his hometown of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory. Due to the absence of bulk billing options, he pays a gap of $51 for each visit, making it even harder for him to stretch his pension.

Such burdensome costs force him to restrict his budget on groceries and fuel, leading to a life that is mostly confined within four walls, which significantly affects his mental and emotional well-being.

'At the moment, when you're basically stuck in four walls, you tend to go...stir crazy,' he said. 'And that's about where I'm getting.'

For this very reason, the 2023-4 Federal Budget announced a new measure intending to encourage more doctors to provide free healthcare to those who hold concession cards, under 16-year-olds, and pensioners like Mr Bevington. It aims to do this by tripling the 'bulk billing incentive' – the amount of money the government pays GPs to bulk bill their services.

Regions like Alice Springs, where the operational costs of running a GP clinic are relatively higher, are among those expected to witness the greatest impact, according to Dr Sam Heard, the NT Faculty chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

Dr Heard mentioned that there are no more bulk-billing GPs left in Alice Springs, except for a few specialist Indigenous primary health services. The increased costs of operating in such remote locations make it challenging for GPs to bulk bill their services without facing significant financial troubles.

Nevertheless, the new measure may potentially change that, compensating GPs for the income lost by not charging a gap fee. However, Dr Heard also warned that this measure could make it more cumbersome for non-pension or concession card holders to find bulk billing doctors.

'It's less likely that you will be bulk billed if you're employed now because the GP will be paid the least for somebody who can afford to pay […] so as a GP, it's obviously going to be quite a hit on your pocket if you bulk bill people who don't have a health care card,' he said.

​

Take, for instance, Mark Black from Darwin, who is struggling to afford regular appointments for his diabetes medication, despite working full time. He doesn't hold a pension or concession card and has even gone without medicine due to a lack of funds.

'It's a bit scary. It means I wonder, “Is it going to kill me?”’ he said. 'That's the worst-case scenario, I suppose.'

Dr Heard encouraged people who are in a similar position as Mr Black to apply for a healthcare card if they're receiving income support or consider putting the cost on a credit card.

Key Takeaways

• The federal budget introduced a measure to triple the bulk billing incentive, aiming to encourage doctors to provide free healthcare to pensioners, concession card holders, and individuals under 16.
• However, this may make it more challenging for workers without these benefits to find bulk-billing doctors, as GPs would be paid less for providing services to those who can afford to pay.
• This puts pensioners and workers, who struggle to afford regular medical appointments, at risk of not receiving necessary healthcare due to financial constraints.

These stories serve as a stark reminder of the genuine challenges confronted by our pensioners and workers when it comes to accessing bulk-billed medical services throughout Australia.

Have you or someone you know experienced similar difficulties? Perhaps you've found yourself in a situation where you had to switch doctors in search of bulk billing options. We encourage you to leave your comments below and share your own stories and experiences – we look forward to hearing from you.

 

[Bikkie mum]

I am lucky in some respects my Dr will bulk bill me sometimes
depending on how long the appointment takes ones with nurse are bulk billed
I won’t go with out my diabetic medication ,I get a Webster pack for 2 weeks pay it monthly
electricity is my biggest bill so I am turning lots of things of at power points ,my rates are payed each pension

 

[kazzjames]

With the rising costs of living these days, just mere survival is hard, especially for retirees, pensioners and seniors. For many, life has become a financial struggle to make ends meet and pay for the various medical bills that come with ageing.

A heart-wrenching example of this can be found in Paul Bevington, a pensioner who skips dinner three times a week to make seven days' worth of groceries last a fortnight.

He does this while living with several chronic health conditions that require him to visit the doctor multiple times each year.

To make matters worse, medical appointments are another worry for him. 'Sometimes I think the only thing keeping me going is the love of my dog, Possum,' he said. 'I'll go hungry before I make her go hungry.'

View attachment 20368

Pensioners and workers are struggling to survive without access to bulk-billed medical services. Credit: Pexels/Matthias Zomer.

Unfortunately, Mr Bevington is also struggling to find a general practitioner (GP) who will bulk bill his medical appointments in his hometown of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory. Due to the absence of bulk billing options, he pays a gap of $51 for each visit, making it even harder for him to stretch his pension.

Such burdensome costs force him to restrict his budget on groceries and fuel, leading to a life that is mostly confined within four walls, which significantly affects his mental and emotional well-being.

'At the moment, when you're basically stuck in four walls, you tend to go...stir crazy,' he said. 'And that's about where I'm getting.'

For this very reason, the 2023-4 Federal Budget announced a new measure intending to encourage more doctors to provide free healthcare to those who hold concession cards, under 16-year-olds, and pensioners like Mr Bevington. It aims to do this by tripling the 'bulk billing incentive' – the amount of money the government pays GPs to bulk bill their services.

Regions like Alice Springs, where the operational costs of running a GP clinic are relatively higher, are among those expected to witness the greatest impact, according to Dr Sam Heard, the NT Faculty chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

Dr Heard mentioned that there are no more bulk-billing GPs left in Alice Springs, except for a few specialist Indigenous primary health services. The increased costs of operating in such remote locations make it challenging for GPs to bulk bill their services without facing significant financial troubles.

Nevertheless, the new measure may potentially change that, compensating GPs for the income lost by not charging a gap fee. However, Dr Heard also warned that this measure could make it more cumbersome for non-pension or concession card holders to find bulk billing doctors.

'It's less likely that you will be bulk billed if you're employed now because the GP will be paid the least for somebody who can afford to pay […] so as a GP, it's obviously going to be quite a hit on your pocket if you bulk bill people who don't have a health care card,' he said.

​

Take, for instance, Mark Black from Darwin, who is struggling to afford regular appointments for his diabetes medication, despite working full time. He doesn't hold a pension or concession card and has even gone without medicine due to a lack of funds.

'It's a bit scary. It means I wonder, “Is it going to kill me?”’ he said. 'That's the worst-case scenario, I suppose.'

Dr Heard encouraged people who are in a similar position as Mr Black to apply for a healthcare card if they're receiving income support or consider putting the cost on a credit card.

Key Takeaways

• The federal budget introduced a measure to triple the bulk billing incentive, aiming to encourage doctors to provide free healthcare to pensioners, concession card holders, and individuals under 16.
• However, this may make it more challenging for workers without these benefits to find bulk-billing doctors, as GPs would be paid less for providing services to those who can afford to pay.
• This puts pensioners and workers, who struggle to afford regular medical appointments, at risk of not receiving necessary healthcare due to financial constraints.

These stories serve as a stark reminder of the genuine challenges confronted by our pensioners and workers when it comes to accessing bulk-billed medical services throughout Australia.

Have you or someone you know experienced similar difficulties? Perhaps you've found yourself in a situation where you had to switch doctors in search of bulk billing options. We encourage you to leave your comments below and share your own stories and experiences – we look forward to hearing from you.

I'm a 74 yr old pensioner. I've been with my doctor since my daughter was 14. She has now turned 40. I left another Dr back when she was 14 because I'm a single parent and the Dr stopped bulk billing. Now it's happening again. I'm to old to go look for another doctor.

 

[Chippie]

Honestly who has ever seen a private practice Doctor doing it hard? Sorry I will never believe it! I find it insulting to pensioners and low income earners for them to say this, maybe it's their high living lifestyle that's the problem.? I have come to the conclusion that in this day and age that the we the old, poor, disabled and disadvantage are looked on as a burden on society and being left to die! The quicker the better!

 

[Tipsy]

With the rising costs of living these days, just mere survival is hard, especially for retirees, pensioners and seniors. For many, life has become a financial struggle to make ends meet and pay for the various medical bills that come with ageing.

A heart-wrenching example of this can be found in Paul Bevington, a pensioner who skips dinner three times a week to make seven days' worth of groceries last a fortnight.

He does this while living with several chronic health conditions that require him to visit the doctor multiple times each year.

To make matters worse, medical appointments are another worry for him. 'Sometimes I think the only thing keeping me going is the love of my dog, Possum,' he said. 'I'll go hungry before I make her go hungry.'

View attachment 20368

Pensioners and workers are struggling to survive without access to bulk-billed medical services. Credit: Pexels/Matthias Zomer.

Unfortunately, Mr Bevington is also struggling to find a general practitioner (GP) who will bulk bill his medical appointments in his hometown of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory. Due to the absence of bulk billing options, he pays a gap of $51 for each visit, making it even harder for him to stretch his pension.

Such burdensome costs force him to restrict his budget on groceries and fuel, leading to a life that is mostly confined within four walls, which significantly affects his mental and emotional well-being.

'At the moment, when you're basically stuck in four walls, you tend to go...stir crazy,' he said. 'And that's about where I'm getting.'

For this very reason, the 2023-4 Federal Budget announced a new measure intending to encourage more doctors to provide free healthcare to those who hold concession cards, under 16-year-olds, and pensioners like Mr Bevington. It aims to do this by tripling the 'bulk billing incentive' – the amount of money the government pays GPs to bulk bill their services.

Regions like Alice Springs, where the operational costs of running a GP clinic are relatively higher, are among those expected to witness the greatest impact, according to Dr Sam Heard, the NT Faculty chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

Dr Heard mentioned that there are no more bulk-billing GPs left in Alice Springs, except for a few specialist Indigenous primary health services. The increased costs of operating in such remote locations make it challenging for GPs to bulk bill their services without facing significant financial troubles.

Nevertheless, the new measure may potentially change that, compensating GPs for the income lost by not charging a gap fee. However, Dr Heard also warned that this measure could make it more cumbersome for non-pension or concession card holders to find bulk billing doctors.

'It's less likely that you will be bulk billed if you're employed now because the GP will be paid the least for somebody who can afford to pay […] so as a GP, it's obviously going to be quite a hit on your pocket if you bulk bill people who don't have a health care card,' he said.

​

Take, for instance, Mark Black from Darwin, who is struggling to afford regular appointments for his diabetes medication, despite working full time. He doesn't hold a pension or concession card and has even gone without medicine due to a lack of funds.

'It's a bit scary. It means I wonder, “Is it going to kill me?”’ he said. 'That's the worst-case scenario, I suppose.'

Dr Heard encouraged people who are in a similar position as Mr Black to apply for a healthcare card if they're receiving income support or consider putting the cost on a credit card.

Key Takeaways

• The federal budget introduced a measure to triple the bulk billing incentive, aiming to encourage doctors to provide free healthcare to pensioners, concession card holders, and individuals under 16.
• However, this may make it more challenging for workers without these benefits to find bulk-billing doctors, as GPs would be paid less for providing services to those who can afford to pay.
• This puts pensioners and workers, who struggle to afford regular medical appointments, at risk of not receiving necessary healthcare due to financial constraints.

These stories serve as a stark reminder of the genuine challenges confronted by our pensioners and workers when it comes to accessing bulk-billed medical services throughout Australia.

Have you or someone you know experienced similar difficulties? Perhaps you've found yourself in a situation where you had to switch doctors in search of bulk billing options. We encourage you to leave your comments below and share your own stories and experiences – we look forward to hearing from you.

The politicians Masters dont give a damn about pensioners and low income workers... this group are the least wanted by the "one world order" the WHO, the WEF, and the likes of the wealthy(Greedy) ones like the Gutless BULLY Bill Gates and these pricks want us to die rather than be useless eaters.... well as far as I am concerned they can all die first

 

[scouserdog]

I don't know of any bulk billing doctors in Canberra - the going rate seems to be $90-$130 for a standard visit. I don't think this initiative is going to help people like me who are old and have a chronic health issue requiring frequent appointments.

 

[Trudi]

The politicians Masters dont give a damn about pensioners and low income workers... this group are the least wanted by the "one world order" the WHO, the WEF, and the likes of the wealthy(Greedy) ones like the Gutless BULLY Bill Gates and these pricks want us to die rather than be useless eaters.... well as far as I am concerned they can all die first

What did Bill Gates do to you? Oh, you have fallen for the conspiracy theory, now I get it!

 

[Zephyrangel50]

We are lucky as our doctor bulk bills and we have reached our limit so now receive free meds for the rest of the year but it is not only the pensioners who are struggling, my daughter works full time in aged care but because of that doesn’t get any help at all. She is a renter whose rent went up $60 a week and she is struggling to make ends meet. No life at all because by the time she pays rent, bills, petrol and very little food there’s not much left to do anything else on. She also suffers with depression so her mental health isn’t good either. Because she works she can’t get a health care card to help her out with medication etc., so it is a double edged sword. and now electricity is going up again when we were promised it would reduce. Everyone is doing it tough at present But we just do the best we can.

 

[freedy50]

The politicians Masters dont give a damn about pensioners and low income workers... this group are the least wanted by the "one world order" the WHO, the WEF, and the likes of the wealthy(Greedy) ones like the Gutless BULLY Bill Gates and these pricks want us to die rather than be useless eaters.... well as far as I am concerned they can all die first

If you're going to talk nonsense, at least get the name of your conspiracy theory correct.

It's “New World Order”
which isn't true anyway.

 

[Cheezil]

With the rising costs of living these days, just mere survival is hard, especially for retirees, pensioners and seniors. For many, life has become a financial struggle to make ends meet and pay for the various medical bills that come with ageing.

A heart-wrenching example of this can be found in Paul Bevington, a pensioner who skips dinner three times a week to make seven days' worth of groceries last a fortnight.

He does this while living with several chronic health conditions that require him to visit the doctor multiple times each year.

To make matters worse, medical appointments are another worry for him. 'Sometimes I think the only thing keeping me going is the love of my dog, Possum,' he said. 'I'll go hungry before I make her go hungry.'

View attachment 20368

Pensioners and workers are struggling to survive without access to bulk-billed medical services. Credit: Pexels/Matthias Zomer.

Unfortunately, Mr Bevington is also struggling to find a general practitioner (GP) who will bulk bill his medical appointments in his hometown of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory. Due to the absence of bulk billing options, he pays a gap of $51 for each visit, making it even harder for him to stretch his pension.

Such burdensome costs force him to restrict his budget on groceries and fuel, leading to a life that is mostly confined within four walls, which significantly affects his mental and emotional well-being.

'At the moment, when you're basically stuck in four walls, you tend to go...stir crazy,' he said. 'And that's about where I'm getting.'

For this very reason, the 2023-4 Federal Budget announced a new measure intending to encourage more doctors to provide free healthcare to those who hold concession cards, under 16-year-olds, and pensioners like Mr Bevington. It aims to do this by tripling the 'bulk billing incentive' – the amount of money the government pays GPs to bulk bill their services.

Regions like Alice Springs, where the operational costs of running a GP clinic are relatively higher, are among those expected to witness the greatest impact, according to Dr Sam Heard, the NT Faculty chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

Dr Heard mentioned that there are no more bulk-billing GPs left in Alice Springs, except for a few specialist Indigenous primary health services. The increased costs of operating in such remote locations make it challenging for GPs to bulk bill their services without facing significant financial troubles.

Nevertheless, the new measure may potentially change that, compensating GPs for the income lost by not charging a gap fee. However, Dr Heard also warned that this measure could make it more cumbersome for non-pension or concession card holders to find bulk billing doctors.

'It's less likely that you will be bulk billed if you're employed now because the GP will be paid the least for somebody who can afford to pay […] so as a GP, it's obviously going to be quite a hit on your pocket if you bulk bill people who don't have a health care card,' he said.

​

Take, for instance, Mark Black from Darwin, who is struggling to afford regular appointments for his diabetes medication, despite working full time. He doesn't hold a pension or concession card and has even gone without medicine due to a lack of funds.

'It's a bit scary. It means I wonder, “Is it going to kill me?”’ he said. 'That's the worst-case scenario, I suppose.'

Dr Heard encouraged people who are in a similar position as Mr Black to apply for a healthcare card if they're receiving income support or consider putting the cost on a credit card.

Key Takeaways

• The federal budget introduced a measure to triple the bulk billing incentive, aiming to encourage doctors to provide free healthcare to pensioners, concession card holders, and individuals under 16.
• However, this may make it more challenging for workers without these benefits to find bulk-billing doctors, as GPs would be paid less for providing services to those who can afford to pay.
• This puts pensioners and workers, who struggle to afford regular medical appointments, at risk of not receiving necessary healthcare due to financial constraints.

These stories serve as a stark reminder of the genuine challenges confronted by our pensioners and workers when it comes to accessing bulk-billed medical services throughout Australia.

Have you or someone you know experienced similar difficulties? Perhaps you've found yourself in a situation where you had to switch doctors in search of bulk billing options. We encourage you to leave your comments below and share your own stories and experiences – we look forward to hearing from you.

So thankful my GP still bulk bills as I already do without most medical treatments that cost $ as the money is needed for other things (mainly vehicle transport) & i already have a very tight budget.

Its shitty being 61yo & questioning the meaning of life (hello depression/anxiety etc) when you chose btwn either putting up with work stress (currently doing 45-49hrs week cleaning) or financial stress about how else are you gonna pay the bills, eat, etc if you dont continue to work! And yes there are a lot of people much worse off than i am (i still have a roof overhead & food & warmth at least)!

 

[Littleboy8]

With the rising costs of living these days, just mere survival is hard, especially for retirees, pensioners and seniors. For many, life has become a financial struggle to make ends meet and pay for the various medical bills that come with ageing.

A heart-wrenching example of this can be found in Paul Bevington, a pensioner who skips dinner three times a week to make seven days' worth of groceries last a fortnight.

He does this while living with several chronic health conditions that require him to visit the doctor multiple times each year.

To make matters worse, medical appointments are another worry for him. 'Sometimes I think the only thing keeping me going is the love of my dog, Possum,' he said. 'I'll go hungry before I make her go hungry.'

View attachment 20368

Pensioners and workers are struggling to survive without access to bulk-billed medical services. Credit: Pexels/Matthias Zomer.

Unfortunately, Mr Bevington is also struggling to find a general practitioner (GP) who will bulk bill his medical appointments in his hometown of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory. Due to the absence of bulk billing options, he pays a gap of $51 for each visit, making it even harder for him to stretch his pension.

Such burdensome costs force him to restrict his budget on groceries and fuel, leading to a life that is mostly confined within four walls, which significantly affects his mental and emotional well-being.

'At the moment, when you're basically stuck in four walls, you tend to go...stir crazy,' he said. 'And that's about where I'm getting.'

For this very reason, the 2023-4 Federal Budget announced a new measure intending to encourage more doctors to provide free healthcare to those who hold concession cards, under 16-year-olds, and pensioners like Mr Bevington. It aims to do this by tripling the 'bulk billing incentive' – the amount of money the government pays GPs to bulk bill their services.

Regions like Alice Springs, where the operational costs of running a GP clinic are relatively higher, are among those expected to witness the greatest impact, according to Dr Sam Heard, the NT Faculty chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

Dr Heard mentioned that there are no more bulk-billing GPs left in Alice Springs, except for a few specialist Indigenous primary health services. The increased costs of operating in such remote locations make it challenging for GPs to bulk bill their services without facing significant financial troubles.

Nevertheless, the new measure may potentially change that, compensating GPs for the income lost by not charging a gap fee. However, Dr Heard also warned that this measure could make it more cumbersome for non-pension or concession card holders to find bulk billing doctors.

'It's less likely that you will be bulk billed if you're employed now because the GP will be paid the least for somebody who can afford to pay […] so as a GP, it's obviously going to be quite a hit on your pocket if you bulk bill people who don't have a health care card,' he said.

​

Take, for instance, Mark Black from Darwin, who is struggling to afford regular appointments for his diabetes medication, despite working full time. He doesn't hold a pension or concession card and has even gone without medicine due to a lack of funds.

'It's a bit scary. It means I wonder, “Is it going to kill me?”’ he said. 'That's the worst-case scenario, I suppose.'

Dr Heard encouraged people who are in a similar position as Mr Black to apply for a healthcare card if they're receiving income support or consider putting the cost on a credit card.

Key Takeaways

• The federal budget introduced a measure to triple the bulk billing incentive, aiming to encourage doctors to provide free healthcare to pensioners, concession card holders, and individuals under 16.
• However, this may make it more challenging for workers without these benefits to find bulk-billing doctors, as GPs would be paid less for providing services to those who can afford to pay.
• This puts pensioners and workers, who struggle to afford regular medical appointments, at risk of not receiving necessary healthcare due to financial constraints.

These stories serve as a stark reminder of the genuine challenges confronted by our pensioners and workers when it comes to accessing bulk-billed medical services throughout Australia.

Have you or someone you know experienced similar difficulties? Perhaps you've found yourself in a situation where you had to switch doctors in search of bulk billing options. We encourage you to leave your comments below and share your own stories and experiences – we look forward to hearing from you.

That’s really sad no one should have to go through that situation. Though I do admit my cat comes before me when it comes to food. He’s my best friend as I too am quite housebound due to ill health. I’m also lucky I have family that has helped me through tough times lately and still are. I don’t know what I’d do without them. I thought as you got older things were supposed to get easier. I’m 65 on july1st and now have to wait another 2 years for a pension. It makes you wonder why bother to stay alive to be stuck in a rut bored shitless and in chronic pain. Thank god for my little boy I live for him because who would love him and care for him if I wasn’t here. My boyTake care everyone.

 

[Jan Purcell]

I live in Sky Vic and thank God my GP bulks bill, Older people should not have to go without so they can pay their GP, we have worked hard all our lives and still some of us in our 70s and 80s are still working. Jan Purcell

 

[Ezzy]

I attend a practice where there are several doctors to choose from. Bulk billing is a choice where some doctors charge for those who work but bulk bill pensioners etc. My current G.P. here bulk bills everyone & can be seen within a day whereas others have appointments booked 6 weeks ahead. Using HOTDOCS saves a lot of time & l can choose an appointment at a glance without phoning a receptionist & hanging on the phone as they answer other calls. The only exception is if l need a double (20 minute) appointment when l do need to phone reception.

I hope the Budget does help needy pensioners like Mr Bevington in the N.T. The Medicare system as existed is completely unacceptable in a country like Australia. I felt like l wanted to pay for his doctor visits so he can eat lunch every day & still feed his mate.