Australian health Care Systems

Question 1

What is the difference between a ‘welfare state’ model and a ‘market model’?

Answer 1

Welfare is funded by tax eg UK
Market- funded by the individual eg USA
Mixed- Australia

Question 2

Overview of Medicare?

Answer 2

• 1984 by Hawke labor govt
• compulsory, universal health insurance scheme based on the principle of equal access for all Australians
• Financed through progressive taxation- those who earn more pay more.
• 2 parts- first is hospital funding and second is primary care services eg GPs
• must provide free in-hospital and ambulatory care
• rebated cost for use of gps etc to cover gap between schedule fee and Drs fee
• the ‘Medicare safety net” reimburses this rebate once a threshold has been reached
• bulk billing- only charges the schedule fee- no gap needed
• Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme- co- payment scheme funded by fed govt