Australia's Healthcare System Flashcards
what is medicare?
Australia’s universal health insurance scheme
who does medicare cover?
All Australians and permanent residents
what DOES medicare cover?
-Doctors visits
-Specialists
-Test and examination
-Psychologists (limited no)
-Hospital treatments
-Hospital stays (public)
what does medicare NOT cover?
- most dental services
-psychologists
-private hospital ( 75% schedule fee)
-cosmetic ( nose job ) - home nursing care
- ambulance services
what is a schedule fee?
This is the amount set by the government for each medical service. it is believed is an appropriate fee
what is a co-payment?
The amount you pay for covered health care services before your insurance plan starts to pay
what is the bulk bill
price of the doctor is the same as the schedule fee
no ‘‘gap’’ to pay
how is Medicare funded?
taxes
medicare levy
medicare levy surcharge
what is the medicare levy?
additional 2% tax on most tax payer taxable income
what is the medicare levy surcharge?
additional 1-1.5% on people without private health insurance who earn over $90000 per year
what does the medical levy encourage?
it encourages people that can afford private health insurance to get it and take pressure off the public system
what is PBS
Pharmaceutical benefits scheme
which is providing subsidised medication making medication affordable and accessible
what is the PBS safety net?
after a certain amount of money spent in a year, your co-payment drops to concessional rate
what is private health insurance?
PHI
A type of insurance that pay premium ( fee) in return for payment towards health elated costs not covers by medicare
what Is the private health insurance rebate
the government provides people with PHI after the age of 30 you are charged an extra 2% for every year over the age of 30
