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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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Graeme
Graeme from NSW commented:

Hey John Like some of the others if $7 co payment is going to help the country then so be it. On top of that the co payment is limited and you are not putting forward the full story just like " wiv " Bill 

Megan
Megan from VIC commented:

Without doubt should this measure pass it will not stay at 7 but increase over and over again. Why would we invest in research which will be onsold to private pharmaceutical companies that will sell it back to us at inflated prices? All of the publicly funded CSIRO discoveries have cost us to buy back. I would have to choose between food, heating and having medical treatment if this came in. One visit to a doctor who sends me for x rays then back for report is an extra 21 dollars...and thats a basic service not including medicare and private hospital payments. Dont be fooled into thinking it will only be 7, it will be 15 plus before you can sneeze 

Allan
Allan from NSW commented:

I bet you the people who are for a co-payment only support it because it is being proposed by a Liberal Government. If it was Labor, they would be against it. they also support it because Alan & Ray support it. Yes, it's that simple 

warren
warren from NSW replied to Allan:

Bob Hawke proposed a co-payment for medicare during his time as PM as he knew it was unaffordable way back then. The Unions canned it. Labor also introduce the co-payment on prescriptions. NZ Labor government provided a $30plus co-payment for their Doctors. Your so 'simple' point is not so right, is it? 

Denise
Denise from NSW commented:

A co-payment will make people think before going to a doctor over trivial matters. It will be capped for those who have chronic illnesses or with children. Fantastic idea. Anyone who has worked, or knows someone who works, in the health care industry knows how much the system is exploited particularly by those who pay nothing - not even a Medicare levy. 

Jane
Jane from VIC commented:

The surgery I go to does bulk bill and they have notified all their customers saying they will not charge the co-payment should it be enforced. 

Lea
Lea from NSW commented:

I pay full price anyway and it has not gone away, it will return especially with privitisation, what a great out for this government. Let the share holders cop the flack. 

Penelope
Penelope from NSW commented:

Sorry, I am over 60 not wealthy, but see the need for a copayment, after working in the health system, people truly in need only pay a certain number of times, before being bulk billed, even $5 would be fair, less than pack of cigarettes. My husband has had cancer for 18 years so is at doctor constantly, but I also see people coming to the doctor again and again for very minor issues, or I should say, an outing! I recently attended an emergency centre as my mother in law was critically ill, dying not long after entering the facility, and watched young mothers bringing children in with no more than a rash or snotty nose, as one nurse said to me, not one ounce of common sense and clogging up an already overloaded system for the really sick people, has to be a deterrent! Our country can't afford it! The age of entitlement has to stop! 

Trevor
Trevor from NSW replied to Penelope:

Kevin from NSW I agree totally with Penelope's remarks. I am also a on a part pension and in my 70's. My wife worked for many years in a doctors surgery in the accounts section and saw the over servicing that went on due to the fact that some older people would abuse the system because of bulk billing, We are also bulk billed but have our own top health cover for emergencies. 

Roger
Roger from NSW replied to Trevor:

I just do not understand how people can complain about a $7 co payment. Why do people want everything for nothing. Like many others here I too am a pensioner who worked hard all his working life without complaint. Maybe it was the way I was bought up but I have never expected anything for nothing. Remember the payment has a cap for pensioners and if you were living in New Zealand you be getting a pension much less than ours and then be required to pay $30 to assist. 

Roger
Roger from NSW replied to Roger:

My previous response was in support of Penelope's comments. My first time on the forum and was not sure how messages came up. Anyway stop complaining about $7 to assist our health system. 

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