“With the rising costs, this is just another thing that I have to add to my bill in order to afford medical care.”

George once thought the Australian healthcare system was “fantastic”. Now, he worries it’s heading in a “disappointing direction”. Source: Supplied

Now, he waits until he visits family in Perth to see his family GP, who doesn’t charge him a gap fee.

“As the years go on, we’re taking up more of the tax burden to fund Medicare as compared to our predecessors.”

Rising costs

“I unfortunately have more ailments as I get older, as everyone does,” he said. “I know that my health care in the future will be dependent on what I can afford.”

Duncan estimates his diabetes has cost him “tens of thousands of dollars” over the last three decades. Source: Supplied

Duncan decided to pay for private health insurance to receive the tax incentives, but feels he’s still not getting value for money.

“For me, in the future, it will be the tax break that you get, but it will be the public system that I use.”

‘Increasing gap between haves and have-nots’

“But what that does is it really increases the gap between the haves and the have-nots. And that inequity flows through to everything.”

Longer lives and fewer carers

At 30 June 2020, Australians over 65 represented 16 per cent of the total population. By 2066, that proportion is expected to jump to between 21 per cent and 23 per cent.

“If they don’t pay more, quality may decline.”

Australians are living longer. Source: SBS

Henry is critical of the role that private health companies play in our healthcare system.

Rachel says she’s “sceptical” of the argument around waiting lists.

The federal Department of Health says private hospitals cover more than 40 per cent of all hospital admissions and deliver more than 70 per cent of elective surgeries, with more than 15 million Australians holding private health insurance.

Are we heading towards a US-style system?

“In Australia, there are legal protections against us moving to a full user pays system that goes all the way to the constitution,” she said.