Media Release
Catholic Health Australia

Medicare Package Lacks Compensation For the Low Paid and Families

Catholic Health Australia today called for a fairer go for the low paid and working poor of Australia.

Speaking after the release of the Government’s GP package, CHA’s CEO Francis Sullivan said, ‘this package disproportionately hits the hard up and the sick and erodes the value of the Medicare entitlement for people without concession cards.’

‘There is no direct compensation for lower income people not bulk billed.  Even if privately insured they still must run up $1000 of fees a year before any benefit arrives.’

‘Families and people on meagre incomes will find bulk billing elusive and the benefits of medical gap insurance costing at least $1000 a year from an already over stretched household budget.’

‘Whilst recognising the complexity of the issue faced by the Government, it is difficult to see where non concession card holders can have confidence that they may be bulk billed at the doctors.’

‘It is equally difficult to accept that doctor charges will not rise as private insurance places a floor under market prices.’

‘Even though all Australians will continue to have access to a Medicare rebate, low paid people will find their rebate only goes part of the way to meet the bill.  Higher income people can more readily carry this cost and in effect are compensated by the very fact that they a better off. ‘

‘The Government must seriously consider direct compensation measures to counteract the burdens placed on lower paid people as doctor charges hit household budgets.’

- received by CathNews 28/4/03