Families across the southern Gold Coast are paying the price for the Albanese Labor Government’s broken promises on Medicare, with out-of-pocket GP costs projected to keep rising as bulk billing continues plummeting.
It is clear the Prime Minister’s promise that “all you need is your Medicare card, not your credit card” has already been broken.
Department of Health officials have admitted that out-of-pocket costs for patients are almost $50 on average – the highest on record – and will continue to “go up”.
Meanwhile, GP bulk billing rates on the southern Gold Coast have dropped from 89.8% under the Coalition to just 77.8% under Labor — a 12% fall, despite the Prime Minister’s claim to be ‘strengthening Medicare’.
“Every week I hear from locals who tell me it’s becoming more difficult and more expensive to see a doctor — and the Government’s own data reflects this,” Leon Rebello, Federal Member for McPherson, said.
“While Anthony Albanese continues waving around his Medicare card like it proves something, we’ll keep standing up for the patients and family practices whose challenges the Prime Minister is all too comfortable ignoring.”
The Coalition has launched a new website, www.HowMuchDoYouPay.au, calling on Australians to share their real experiences about the true cost of seeing a GP under Labor.
“This website gives people in our community a chance to tell the real story,” Mr Rebello said.
“Labor can’t spin their way out of the fact that it’s never been harder or more expensive to see a doctor.”
When the former Coalition Government left office, bulk billing rates were at almost 90%, and Australians paid less per visit than they do today.
Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care Senator Anne Ruston said that Labor was focused on using Medicare as its political plaything, instead of addressing the real challenges faced by patients and GPs across Australia.
“The Prime Minister has misled Australians by promising they wouldn’t need their credit card to see a doctor but GP costs are at record highs and families are paying more than ever before,” Senator Ruston said.
“Only 12% of metropolitan GP clinics have signed up to Labor’s bulk billing program, while out-of-pocket costs are projected to keep rising – proving you can’t trust Labor’s Medicare lies.
“It is no wonder that very few GPs are signing up to Labor’s program because local GP practices – mostly small, family-run businesses – are struggling with the rising cost of doing business under Labor, including skyrocketing energy bills and rent.”
Australians are encouraged to visit www.HowMuchDoYouPay.au to share their story about what it’s really costing to see a GP under Labor.
