Medicare use is monitored and allows the Government to see how and where people are accessing and using the public health system
The Australian public, pay a Medicare levythis is a contribution of up to 2% of taxpayers taxable income through the tax system.
Government contributions further support Medicare.
Medicare enables all Australian residents to have access to free or low cost treatment by health professionals. This includes general practitioner visits, dental for children; those with chronic or complex conditions, optometric care and public hospital care.
People are still free to choose private sector healthcare.
The best place to learn more about Medicare is on the Government supported web page. We are directing you to the page provided for consumers, the people who use Medicare and that way if they need more information you know where to direct them.
https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/dhs/medicare
Medicare
In this activity, you select services that medicare does not cover
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Private health providers will argue that private health insurance for the rich is a myth. Over 11.7 million Australians are covered by private health insurance.
Private health insurance does tend to advantage those who are already socio-economically advantaged.
Private health insurance also receives commonwealth government funding. Lobbyists argues that the funding would be better spent on developing a better and more advanced public health care system.
The Australian Government Private Health Insurance Ombudsman,
http://www.privatehealth.gov.au/
Watch on YouTube: Your Health Care Choices
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uRFFoTpVRw
Private health insurance
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There are restrictions to the medications subsidised by the PBS such as those prescribed by dentists and optometrists, non-prescription medications, experimental drugs, natural remedies and anabolic steroids.
PBS is part of Australia’s Broader National Medicines Policy which, quoted by the Australian Government Department of Health is: “a cooperative endeavour to bring about better health outcomes for all Australians, focusing especially on people’s access to, and wise use of, medicines.
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
This website contains information on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme including details of the medicines subsidised by the Australian Government as well as information for consumers, carers, health professionals and the pharmaceutical industry.
The PBS is part of Australia’s broader National Medicines Policy.
Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme
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The Government has introduced a tax levy which means most taxpayers (dependent upon income) will contribute to funding the NDIS
This scheme recognises that individuals required different levels of care and support services.
The individual is now the central focus of the care modelalso referred to as patient centric care, this means they have more opportunities to make decisions on the services needed and the health professionals they can access.
Individualised funding means they can choose where they wish to spend their funding.
The term ‘medicine’ includes prescription and non-prescription medicines, including complementary healthcare products.”
With any type of government information, like this strategy, it’s important to go to the source of information to ensure it is accurate and current:
Australian Department of Human Services
National Disability Insurance Scheme
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