How are the sick cared for in Australia?

Answer 1

Sick people in Australia are cared for extremely well, compared to most other parts of the world. There are two basic options: private insurance, or public health. Thos with private insurance are also covered by the exceptional public health system.

If you make a moderate to reasonable amount of money you may choose to have private insurance which gives you a better choice of doctors and makes elective surgery far more quickly achieved. There is also a surcharge paid through taxation; however the insurance is a tax deduction.

If you do not have the money or choose not to pay the money to be insured then if you become seriously ill you are immediately placed in to a hospital and treated. If treatment can wait you are placed on a waiting list and as soon as a place for your surgery becomes available you are advised and you come in for the procedure. This can be risky as, in some states, waiting times can be long and painful, even in emergency rooms. In a recent case, the patient could have been treated simply had he been seen immediately, but the extended wait caused further problems and eventually reulsted in the death of the patient. However, bear in mind that Australia's standards are still higher than one in many other parts of the world.

If you are only visiting your GP then sometimes you can bulk bill the whole thing and no money changes hands. This is not the case with all GPs, however - only some bulk bill. One is required to pay the bill, then reclaim what they can from Medicare, which covers part of the bill.

Pensioners and the unemployed are even better off as they are also covered for pharmaceuticals which are already subsidised under the pharmaceutical benefits scheme.