This is basic economics that neither major party nor the Greens will acknowledge |
One is close family (cancer). One is a close friend (heart). One is first-name, morning-walk nodding acquaintance (cancer). All have the same ghastly experience - diagnosis with a life-threatening illness facing a strained health system.
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One had a rejection from a private insurer on a technicality and family came to a $20,000 rescue and early successful treatment. The second has to (and can with strain) pay $30,000 for cardiac treatment.
The third has no means. That person's cancer (in a vital organ) cannot be surgically treated in the public system for three months. Cancer does not wait. If not cut out, it can and does metastasise making treatment more difficult if not ultimately impossible.
With these three anecdotal examples, it is quite apparent that we now have a two-tier system where money determines whether you live or die and where money determines whether you wait in pain or get quick treatment. And in that two-tiered system many of those who pay cannot really afford to do so.
Anecdotal examples are important because lived experience and word of mouth do more to change people's political inclinations than any amount of political campaigning and propaganda.
These are examples of the uninsured. But now not even private health cover will automatically save you. Last week, the Australian Medical Association eviscerated the private system.
Its private health insurance report card said: "Australians are paying more for private health insurance while getting less value in return."
It cited runaway premiums, low-value offerings and shady tactics like removing cover for some procedures or closing off policies to be replaced by policies with higher premiums.
Every year since 2008, premium increases outstripped inflation, health-sector inflation, average weekly earnings, and the indexation of the Medicare Benefits Schedule, the report said.
Over the six years to June 2025, benefits for........