Every time I see Albo wave his Medicare card around, I know he is gaslighting us. Labor has promised to increase the number of bulk-billing general practitioners (GPs) and to ensure that most Australians will be no more than a 20-minute drive away from a bulk-billing clinic.
In the lead-up to the election, the Australian Association of Practice Management said it was all ‘smoke and mirrors’. Here’s how the details are massaged.
Last week, I visited my local GP. I was charged $88 for a standard consultation. My Medicare refund was processed instantly leaving me with an out-of-pocket expense of $45.15.
I needed my credit card as well as my Medicare card.
After watching Mr Albanese waving his Medicare card around at his pre-election address at the National Press Club last week, I thought I would investigate further.
I visited the government’s Health Direct service and searched for my nearest bulk-billing clinic. The nearest bulk-billing clinic was the one I had attended where I paid $45.15. It doesn’t bulk-bill, but Health Direct points to it as my nearest bulk-billing clinic.
The next nearest town is over 40km away. There is no public transport. I’ve never had a GP fee bulk billed. In my experience, that’s only for people with a Health Care Card.
In fact, the only time where I didn’t receive a bill was when I had surgery as an outpatient at a regional hospital.
After the surgery, I received a letter stating that I could relieve the burden on the government if I signed a form that allowed the surgeon to bill my private health fund. I would have no out-of-pocket expenses. I ignored the letter.
All that does is increase the burden on my private health fund and ultimately increases my premium. I already pay my Medicare levy so my rationale was that I would get something for my trouble and let the government cover it.
Months later, I discovered that the surgeon had processed the payment against my private health fund without my permission.
So, when Albo waves his Medicare card around, in my opinion it is just a big Mediscam.
Make no mistake, Mediscam is a way for Labor to come after more of your money. There is nothing morally superior about Medicare.
It will be interesting to see what happens with private health insurance now the socialists have control of both Houses of Parliament. Even though the Greens have suffered in the lower house, they can still cause trouble in the Senate.
According to the Inner West Council’s Darcy Byrne, who was photographed with Albo and their Mediscam cards, the election was:
‘A great day for Medicare and a great day for Australia.’
For me, it was yet another nail in the coffin of my prosperity.
Dr Michael de Percy @FlaneurPolitiq is The Spectator Australia’s Canberra Press Gallery Correspondent. All opinions in this article are the author’s own.
