5 years ago
2018: ANOTHER YEAR OF MORRISON’S HEALTH HIKES
CATHERINE KING MP
2018 has marked another year of record health costs for Australians under the Liberals, with official Government data revealing that consumers are paying 11% more out of their own pockets to see a GP since Scott Morrison became Treasurer in 2015.
The statistics are even worse for other specialists – with patients paying an average 12% more for every consult – or almost $15 extra.
These figures are further proof of what Australians already know: that Scott Morrison and the Liberals have driven health costs to record highs.
After five years of Liberal cuts and chaos – including the ongoing Medicare freeze – Government figures show that 1.3 million Australians are now forced to skip basic health care due to cost.
This includes over 660,000 who skip GP care and over 530,000 who skip specialist care – both as a direct result of out of pocket costs under the Liberals.
This year’s increases will put even greater pressure on family budgets and force even more Australians to skip essential care.
Yet Scott Morrison is determined to cut Medicare by keeping parts of his Medicare freeze in place until 2020 - driving out of pocket costs up even higher.
As Treasurer, Scott Morrison personally extended the Liberals’ Medicare freeze by two years, cutting another $925 million from Medicare.
Despite claiming more than 18 months ago that he would end the Medicare freeze, Mr Morrison’s freeze will remain in place for specialist procedures and allied health consultations until July 2019.
Another 100 GP items are scheduled to remain frozen until July 2020 – including items for urgent after-hours care, health checks for older Australians and vulnerable groups, and incentives for cervical screening.
Only Labor will end the Liberals’ Medicare freeze and defend our universal health care system.
The statistics are even worse for other specialists – with patients paying an average 12% more for every consult – or almost $15 extra.
These figures are further proof of what Australians already know: that Scott Morrison and the Liberals have driven health costs to record highs.
After five years of Liberal cuts and chaos – including the ongoing Medicare freeze – Government figures show that 1.3 million Australians are now forced to skip basic health care due to cost.
This includes over 660,000 who skip GP care and over 530,000 who skip specialist care – both as a direct result of out of pocket costs under the Liberals.
This year’s increases will put even greater pressure on family budgets and force even more Australians to skip essential care.
Yet Scott Morrison is determined to cut Medicare by keeping parts of his Medicare freeze in place until 2020 - driving out of pocket costs up even higher.
As Treasurer, Scott Morrison personally extended the Liberals’ Medicare freeze by two years, cutting another $925 million from Medicare.
Despite claiming more than 18 months ago that he would end the Medicare freeze, Mr Morrison’s freeze will remain in place for specialist procedures and allied health consultations until July 2019.
Another 100 GP items are scheduled to remain frozen until July 2020 – including items for urgent after-hours care, health checks for older Australians and vulnerable groups, and incentives for cervical screening.
Only Labor will end the Liberals’ Medicare freeze and defend our universal health care system.
GP attendances | |
| | | |
| 2018-19 | 2015-16 | $ increase | % increase
| YTD Jul-Sep | YTD Jul-Sep
Australia | 36.47 | 32.33 | $4.1 | 11.4%
NSW | 35.51 | 31.30 | $4.2 | 11.9%
VIC | 36.03 | 31.70 | $4.3 | 12.0%
QLD | 37.02 | 32.80 | $4.2 | 11.4%
SA | 32.19 | 28.19 | $4.0 | 12.4%
WA | 38.66 | 35.26 | $3.4 | 8.8%
TAS | 37.73 | 32.72 | $5.0 | 13.3%
NT | 45.90 | 42.81 | $3.1 | 6.7%
ACT | 43.78 | 38.27 | $5.5 | 12.6%
| | | |
| 2018-19 | 2015-16 | $ increase | % increase
| YTD Jul-Sep | YTD Jul-Sep
Australia | 36.47 | 32.33 | $4.1 | 11.4%
NSW | 35.51 | 31.30 | $4.2 | 11.9%
VIC | 36.03 | 31.70 | $4.3 | 12.0%
QLD | 37.02 | 32.80 | $4.2 | 11.4%
SA | 32.19 | 28.19 | $4.0 | 12.4%
WA | 38.66 | 35.26 | $3.4 | 8.8%
TAS | 37.73 | 32.72 | $5.0 | 13.3%
NT | 45.90 | 42.81 | $3.1 | 6.7%
ACT | 43.78 | 38.27 | $5.5 | 12.6%
Specialist Attendances | |
| | | |
| 2018-19 | 2015-16 | $ increase | % increase
| YTD Jul-Sep | YTD Jul-Sep
Australia | 80.18 | 68.20 | $12.0 | 14.9%
NSW | 87.70 | 74.23 | $13.5 | 15.4%
VIC | 75.06 | 62.95 | $12.1 | 16.1%
QLD | 79.69 | 68.60 | $11.1 | 13.9%
SA | 62.76 | 53.11 | $9.7 | 15.4%
WA | 80.00 | 70.23 | $9.8 | 12.2%
TAS | 64.53 | 55.92 | $8.6 | 13.3%
NT | 92.04 | 83.32 | $8.7 | 9.5%
ACT | 97.72 | 83.97 | $13.8 | 14.1%
| | | |
| 2018-19 | 2015-16 | $ increase | % increase
| YTD Jul-Sep | YTD Jul-Sep
Australia | 80.18 | 68.20 | $12.0 | 14.9%
NSW | 87.70 | 74.23 | $13.5 | 15.4%
VIC | 75.06 | 62.95 | $12.1 | 16.1%
QLD | 79.69 | 68.60 | $11.1 | 13.9%
SA | 62.76 | 53.11 | $9.7 | 15.4%
WA | 80.00 | 70.23 | $9.8 | 12.2%
TAS | 64.53 | 55.92 | $8.6 | 13.3%
NT | 92.04 | 83.32 | $8.7 | 9.5%
ACT | 97.72 | 83.97 | $13.8 | 14.1%