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NewsIs the GP Co-payment dead, or is it just resting?
Is the GP Co-payment dead, or is it just resting?

Is the GP Co-payment dead, or is it just resting?

Tags: Consumer Action Cost of Living Private Health Insurance Sticking Up for FiftyUps
Last updated by John Mangos on

d&mHere at the FiftyUp Club, we’ve been banging on about healthcare costs for the over-50s all year.

Never more so than when Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey announced plans for a $7 co-payment every time we visit the GP, X-ray or pathologist as part of the Budget earlier this year.

It’s been nearly three months since we travelled to Canberra to meet with the Federal Health Minister on behalf of the Club’s members.

More than 10,000 of you added your voice to Our Submission to Minister Dutton.

So what’s happened since?

Good news is, the Federal Government’s proposal has stalled and we sure hope it stays that way.

Reluctantly the Government put the measure on ‘hold’ as they don’t have the numbers to pass it through the Senate.

The official line from the Government is that they “are still committed to the measure.”

So whilst they haven’t entirely backed down, for the time being at least, it looks like you won’t be paying $7 every time you visit your GP.

Further, I have it from reliable sources in Canberra that it’s as good as dead. Read: too much political pain for too little electoral or fiscal gain.

That’s a huge win for the Club and for each one of you.

On top of our submission, more than 13,000 of you signed our petition calling for greater transparency on the rising cost of private health insurance for FiftyUps.

We made our stance loud and clear when we asked Mr Dutton to publish figures on premium increases by age band, and to reduce the impact of co-payments on Australians aged 50 and over, particularly those on fixed incomes.

To his credit, Mr Dutton gave us a fair hearing. Ours was not the only disenchanted voice.

The sheer weight of numbers has forced a re-evaluation of a universally condemned measure to raise revenue.

It wouldn’t be right for us at the FiftyUp Club to take sole credit for the backdown, but boy, did we add pressure!

Thank you members for your increasing support. And thank you Victoria for jumping on… we now have more than 10,000 of you joined up in less than two weeks.

Victorians have now unlocked deals on Electricity, Car and Health Insurance like the rest of us. And it won’t stop there.

We’ve already filled at least an MCG on Grand Final Day. Politicians and Corporate Australia have realised they ignore that voice at their peril. And we’re barely a year old.

Keep getting on the train. This ride to improve our spending power has only just begun

CLICK HERE to send a Thankyou email to Health Minister Peter Dutton

Originally posted on .

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Is the GP Co-payment dead or is it just Resting?

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Julie
Julie from VIC commented:

I agree with John, Arthur, and Roger. $7.00 is a small sum to pay to reduce over servicing by doctors, bring down the escalating medical welfare, and aid medical research. We are so fortunate in Australia and lets keep it that way. 

Grace
Grace from NSW commented:

I understood the GP Co-Payment of 7.00 per visit was exactly that and stopped at the GP Medical Centre of choice.. I was appalled when I found out the Co-Payment did not stop there, but continued on to X-Ray, Pathology, and all ongoing consultations etc. Shame on you Liberal Party - how sneaky can you get ?? 

John
John from VIC commented:

Good afternoon John. My wife and I do not agree with you on the co payment. It is for 10 visits and those who are unable to make this payment; the GP has the discretion to waive it. Also the propose medical research fund allocated from the $7.00 is visionary and benefits all Australians.. 

Theo
Theo from NSW commented:

I have to agree 100 % with Lawrence from NSW . I happen to be a self-funded retiree, having paid taxes all my 60 years of my working life in Australia.and realise that not everything can be {socalled] free. Happy to be an Aussie. Theohetc 

Arthur
Arthur from VIC commented:

Well Done 

Lawrence
Lawrence from NSW commented:

Unfortunately 50 up club is wrong on this one. The Governments propose $7 fee to visit the Doctor is not unreasonable and will assist all people and should be strongly supported. It is a modest amount and should be accepted rather that the continuation of the attitude of many " That they are entitled". There are so many people on welfare who pays?? Also the introduction of a small payment will help reduce the over-servicing by Doctors using Bulk Billing which just makes them richer and costs more to Government ( i.e. the paying workers). 

Roger
Roger from NSW commented:

Perhaps I may be outnumbered on this, but I support the proposed co-payment. Aside from the fact that my GP does not bulk bill and I already pay a healthy whack each visit, I'm strongly in favour of raising the funding for medical research. Just maybe they will discover cures for some of the ills that tend to affect us as we get older. We pay a co-payment for scripts ... why not for the doctors' services that lead to issuing those scripts? Maybe the Fifty-up Club should first ascertain the opinions of its membership before rushing off on a campaign which we do not agree is in our interests. 

Allan
Allan from NSW commented:

Carolyn from Qld says the economy is a disaster due to the previous Govt. Here are the facts and you won't get these from the talkback radio gurus who tell listeners how to think: 1. When the previous Govt left office the Australian economy had the second lowest debt of any developed country 2. The debt has become worse under the current Govt. 

Rossiter
Rossiter from NSW commented:

I mhope it is not dead. It would certainly help to avoid over servicing and is a fair price to pay for the Service. I currently pay $76 for a visit. 

brian
brian from QLD commented:

To stop the health system collapsing on itself surely a meagre $7 a visit , two cups of coffee and not once a week , more likely once a month is not much to ask. Brian from Maroochydore 

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