A bit about Australia's health system

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It took me awhile to realise the American health system is very different to our own. I’m pretty naïve in some ways but there you go. I thought it might interest some members to learn a bit more about Australia’s health system. Our Medicare system is funded mainly through taxes. It covers doctor visits, public hospital treatment, and some other medical services, either free or at a subsidised cost. It doesn’t fully cover such things as private hospital treatment, dental, physiotherapy, and glasses. Doctors can ‘bulk bill’. When we visit our practice, we pay nothing for regular consultations. The practice bills Medicare. Private health insurance is not essential for basic medical care; however, there may be a long waiting list for some surgeries and/or treatment. Private health insurance is optional and policies vary considerably. Depending on the ‘table’ you choose, you might be entitled to a private room in hospital. Certain services such as dental, optical, physiotherapy, will be at least partially covered and mostly you’d avoid long waiting lists for some/most surgeries. We are free to choose our own service provider. Of course, it all comes at a cost. We’ve had private health insurance ever since we got married. When Vince had his heart and lung operation, the bills were in the tens of thousands of dollars but what we had to pay out was only in the hundreds. He had the doctor of his choice, a private room and he didn't have to wait long to have the surgery done. The photo is mine.