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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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Liz
Liz from VIC commented:

People power at work 

Lorraine
Lorraine from VIC commented:

I think it is a small price to pay...everyone wants the best of health care using high tech equipment and skilled medical staff which continues to break new ground. As a pensioner I am happy to pay for that service 

margaret
margaret from NSW replied to Lorraine:

That is why this payment is so controversial. For you it is not a problem. For me as an aged pensioner, even though I am in private rental, it is not at this time , a problem. However should my rent payments change dramatically, and how easily that could happen, and I need to see a doctor more than the twice a year I now need, this might not be the case. For a friend who is on New Start, a few years off pension age yet regarded by every employer as too old to be employable, those $7 payments can only come from her $36 per week food money or her $4 prescription/clothing money allowance. For her this $7 is a worry. YEP What $7 means to one really does depend on circumstances. The problem I do have with co payments is trust. Remember how the GST take would increase naturally with population growth, and therefore no % increase would be needed. Admittedly we were allowed to believe in this 'tooth fairy' for a few more years than I thought we would, never-the- less we are under threat yet again. Of course even though we are told there will be offsets, it will bite many. For some it might make the difference between a 21 day trip overseas and an 18 day trip, to other it might mean no eggs or less bread. Rather depends on your circumstances. 

gabrielle
gabrielle from NSW commented:

I am sorry if the FiftyUp club members are so self indulgent that they cannot support the $7 payment. Just 2 cups of coffee. I am a pensioner and live from day to day, but although I save every penny possible to pay my bills, this is a very small amouunt to keep our country from bankruptcy. Capped at 10 visits a year it is a drop in the ocean compared to all the other costs we have to pay. 

Nancy
Nancy from NSW commented:

Reading comments, I don't see too many folk disagreeing with the co-payment!! I, for one am totally for it. Labour got us into such a mess, & now we need to get out of it. Too many people expect the Gvt. to continue giving handouts which none of us can afford. Who do they think pays for all their so called entitlements? 

Zoe
Zoe from QLD commented:

I don't mind paying something for mymedicals, but Please, is all this money really going to go to research or is it going to disappear in the caverns of the government. There is a claim Australia is suffering a brain drain because there is a paucity of money for research and anyway, our good brain people are paid peanuts. Go work it out. Zoe 

Stan
Stan from NSW commented:

I am on a fixed income and would be more than happy to pay the co-payment for the sake of helping Australia and new research. The problem is that we all expect too much and are not willing to give anything up for the sake of our country. Australians are not the Australians of the past, willing to give up something for the sake of their country. I would have thought over 50's would have had more responsibility instead of wanting all they can get from government. 

Stan
Stan from NSW commented:

I am on a fixed income and would be more than happy to pay the co-payment for the sake of helping Australia and new research. The problem is that we all expect too much and are not willing to give anything up for the sake of our country. A 

Stan
Stan from NSW commented:

I am on a fixed income and would be more than happy to pay the co-payment for the sake of helping Australia and new research. The problem is that we all expect too much and are not willing to give anything up for the sake of our country. A 

Stan
Stan from NSW commented:

I am on a fixed income and would be more than happy to pay the co-payment for the sake of helping Australia and new research. The problem is that we all expect too much and are not willing to give anything up for the sake of our country. A 

Stan
Stan from NSW commented:

I am on a fixed income and would be more than happy to pay the co-payment for the sake of helping Australia and new research. The problem is that we all expect too much and are not willing to give anything up for the sake of our country. A 

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