Out-of-pocket medical costs soar
The out-of-pocket costs of seeing GP has jumped over the past seven years, with some Victorians stung $50 after their Medicare rebate. See how your suburb compares.
VIC News
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The cost of a trip to the GP has jumped over the past seven years as people in some parts of Victoria pay almost $50 after their Medicare rebate.
Health Department data provided to the Senate reveals out-of-pocket costs have risen more than 10 per cent in 11 regions across the state.
The data, from 2012 to 2019, revealed it was on average most expensive to see a GP in the leafy southeastern electorate of Higgins.
Residents in suburbs including Toorak, Malvern East and South Yarra were paying an average $48.50 after Medicare rebates.
Goldstein, which includes Brighton, had an increase of $13.61 over the period — the most of any seat in the state.
Bendigo residents’ paid the least, with an average $30.61 gap being charged.
They also received the smallest price rise from 2012, followed by Nicholls, which only experienced a $6 rise over the period.
Lara GP and Victorian chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Cameron Loy said doctors knew the importance of affordable health care and kept consultations as affordable as possible.
He said it was of great concern that some Australians could be turned off seeing a doctor because of the price.
“They are faced with these awful decisions where Australians have to make a decision if they can go to the doctor or buy school books, do other things,” Dr Loy said.
“That is an awful, horrendous decision.
“If you had the same GP over your lifespan and if they had time for longer consultations, you would have better health outcomes over your lifespan.”
He called on the Morrison Government to pump money back into the sector so practices could lower their costs to ensure no one endured stress over the cost of basic medical check-ups.
Labor health spokesman Chris Bowen said the cost rises showed more needed to be done.
“These new figures are a damning indictment of the Coalition’s record of cuts and neglect in health,” he said.
“Health costs have never been higher than under Scott Morrison.”
Medicare covers $38.20 of all GP appointments lasting less than 20 minutes, in which patients could have a general check up. Anything a surgery charges over that figure is paid for by the patient.
Health Minister Greg Hunt was approached for comment.
Most expensive electorates on average after Medicare rebate:
1. Higgins $48.50
2. Macnamara $48.15
3. Goldstein $46.63
4. Melbourne $45.88
5. Kooyong $45.28
6. Cooper $39.60
7. Gellibrand $39.28
8. Isaacs $39.19
9. Hotham $39.17
10. Fraser $38.73
Least expensive electorates on average after Medicare rebate:
1. Bendigo $30.61
2. Nicholls $31.48
3. Mallee $33.39
4. Monash $33.45
5. Holt $33.50
6. Wannon $33.67
7. Indi $33.69
8. Scullin $34.54
9. Gorton $34.82
10. McEwen $34.97