Australian Healthcare system

[715761]

Hi Guys

So, in my preparation for the Monash interview (I only decided I wanted to medicine after I got my interview, hence have done *no study* all year =/ ) I've been trying to get a little understanding of the Aust. Healthcare system.

atm - my first hurdling block is with medicare. No matter how much governmental and wikipedia crap I look at, I really just don't get how it works!
What exactly IS bulk billing? Why the subsidies? Do we actually have to pay at ALL for our healthcare?


Sorry if these are stupid questions, I've seriously been living in a bubble all VCE =/

[shinny]

With the new MMI system I mentioned in the other thread, you won't really need to know the specifics of Medicare at all. They're more assessing your personality and people skills. Still, its good to know I guess but after 2 years I still don't know the specifics about it so I'll leave the question to be answered more in-depth by someone else.

[Russ]

Yes, you do have to pay for your healthcare (both directly and indirectly). When you go to your GP, a consultation costs $60 and you have to pay that money on the day, to the clinic. They give you a receipt which can be taken to a medicare office (I did this this morning actually) and you get some of the money back...$35.

The government is subsidising the cost of healthcare for various reasons, mostly to make it more accessible. But the money they give you back has to come from somewhere, so when you get taxed you end up contributing to the rebate system.

In terms of bulk billing, there's some medico-legal definition, but the doctor is usually just charging you less so they get it all from the government.