Chapter 6 (medicare Flashcards
What is Medicare
- Medicare is Australia’s universal health insurance scheme.
- It provides all Australian citizens ,permanent residents and people from countries that have reciprocal agreements access to health care at no out of pocket cost.
Services covered by Medicare
Doctors(G.P’s)
Specialist consultations at public hospitals
Public hospitals(including surgery and follow up procedures)
X-rays and pathology tests (e.g. blood tests)
Eye tests
Services not covered by Medicare
- Treatment in private hospitals
- Dental and allied health services (e.g. physiotherapy, chiropractors, acupuncturist.)
- Elective treatment (e.g. cosmetic surgery)
- Home nursing and treatment
- Ambulances
- Health aids(e.g. glasses , hearing aids, prosthetics)
How is Medicare funded?
General taxation
Medicare levy:
Australian taxpayers are charged 2% of their taxable income to help the federal government fund Medicare.
Medicare Levy surcharge:
• The MLS is an additional 1-1.5% that is paid on top of the ordinary Medicare Levy.
Medicare safety net
Once an individual or family has contributed a certain amount out of their own pocket to Medicare services in a calendar year($700 for individuals, $1000 for families), further financial support is provided by the government, making Medicare services cheaper for the remainder of the year.
Bulk-billing i?
Bulk-billing is when the doctor charges only the schedule fee so the patient does not have to make any co-payment.
Disadvantages
No choice of doctor in-hospital treatments
Waiting list for non life threatening conditions
does not always cover the full amount of a doctors visit
Advantages
Availible to all australian citizens and people who live in reciprocal agreement countries.
- Covers costs for essential services
- Medicare safety net provides extra financial contributions to medical services
