Medicare was never a genuinely universal health program and over time has been eroded to the point that it is now “universal” in name only.
There are multiple ways in which Medicare fails the universality test.
High and unpredictable out-of-pocket payments put many essential health services out of reach of many Australians. In 2020-21 just under half a million Australians reported that they had missed recommended medical specialist treatment due to cost.
Doctor shortages mean that people living in rural and regional Australia often miss out on essential healthcare as Medicare requires a doctor on the ground to either deliver or provide access to these services.
The National Rural Health Alliance has calculated that there is a shortfall of $4bn a year in Medicare funding going to regional Australia. This is one reason why people living in these areas have shorter lives and higher levels of disease and injury than those in major cities……..
Source: The Guardian
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