8 of 12

Write now Article Tools

Here in Australia, we have had a universal medicare for all people. It is funded by a 1.5% levy on every tax payer. It doesn't matter if you are a high earner, or a low earner, while the tax rates are different the medicare levy is the same.

Do we get upset about it. No. We know that everyone can go to the doctor, or hospital and receive decent health care. The hospitals receive additional funding based on the number of patients they treat.

If you go to the doctor and he/she charges you $40 for the visit, you can get $30 back. If you spend more than $1000 in a year for medical attention, all visits after the $1000 are free.

It means that rich or poor everyone can get decent health care. It is subject to abuse, people do doctor shop for drugs, simply attention, but overall people lives are improved.

If you can afford it people can buy private health insurance which works with the Medicare, you pay more, but you get to choose your own surgeons, you get better hospital rooms, or a better hospital. You often get immediate access to a hospital bed for elective surgery, instead of waiting for a hospital bed to open up in a public hospital.

What you don't get is huge insurance companies dictating who receives hospital treatment, or treatment being stopped because it is over your allowed amount. People with cancer, or life threatening diseases can receive treatment (yes often the money received from Medicare Levy is not enough for all the people and the Government reaches into its own pocket, what is better healthy happy taxpayers, or sick deadbeats and pork barrelled industries).

We also have subsidised prescriptions, this means that the government uses some of the medicare levy to allow access to expensive lifesaving medicine, for example a recent drug Herceptin lats week cost women with breast cancer $3000 per injection, now it is sponsored by the Government and only costs the patients $33 per injection, this reduces the financial burden to both them and the heath insurer and frees up money for other patients.

Socialised medicine may not be perfect, but everyone has the right to be healthy for as long as they can, give a little, get a lot back.

It is alright to moan and complain that you are paying a levy to support the poor, hungry, drug addled, but remember "there but for the grace of god go I". A stroke of bad luck and it could be you looking for a medical handout.

Learn more about this author, Robert Mcmartin.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about What healthcare reform would be the most beneficial??
We want to hear your view. Write now!