(November 22, 2011 at 6:42 pm)padraic Wrote: Australia actually had a system very much like that before Medicare. I worked for the Commonwealth health department, as an auditor. I audited the books of the health funds, a truly stultifying job.
It was called 'The Subsidised Health Benefits' System'. I was appalled when it was abolished,not believing for a second that Medicare would be cheaper or more efficient. I was part right..
Our present system, with its absurd 30%s subsidy ON TOP of Medicare for private health insurance seems to be more expensive and less efficient. However, I think it can be argued that our present system is more EFFECTIVE,which I consider more important,
Thanks for filling in what the Australian health care system was like before Medicare. To be fair the state governments here have a major role in our health care system. Because they own and run the "state" hospital systems which suffer from problems such as long waiting lists for elective surgery and excess bureaucracy. I have personally spoken to people who work in state hospitals and they have noted especially the latter.
Anyway the problem I see with the 30% private health insurance rebate is that it often than not goes to people who can afford health insurance anyway.
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