Medicare

Question 1

What is medicare?

Answer 1

Medicare is a government funded program that gives people access to healthcare

Question 2

What does medicare cover (in & out hospital)

Answer 2

OUT OF HOSPITAL
-Consultation fees for drs and specialists
-X-rays, blood tests and
- other pathology tests
- Surgical procedures performed by gp
- Some dental services
- Eye tests by optometrist

IN HOSPITAL
- Accommodation and treatment by doctors and specialists in a public hospital
- 75% Of the schedule fee for treatment by doctors and specialists in private hospitals (Not including accommodation and other costs)

Question 3

What is bulk billing?

Answer 3

Doctors who choose to be paid reduced fees directly by the government rather than bill patients fully and bear the cost of billing.

Question 4

What is co-payment?

Answer 4

Payment made by consumer for health products or services in addition to amount paid by government

Question 5

What is the medicare levy?

Answer 5

Additional 2% tax places on taxable income of most tax payers

Question 6

What is the medicare levy surcharge?

Answer 6

People earning more than 90,000$/180,000 a year pay extra tax if they don’t purchase private hospital insurance pay an extra 1 - 1.5% tax

Question 7

Advantages of medicare

Answer 7

-Choice of doctor for out-of-hospital services
-Available to all aus citizens
-Gives reciprocal free health care in some countries
-Covers GP and specialist fees, accommodation in
- public hospital and tests
- Safety net offers additional assistance

Question 8

Disadvantages of medicare

Answer 8

-No choice of docter for in-hospital-services
-Waiting lists for many treatments
-Does not cover allied health or alternative health services
-Often has out of pocket expenses