News

NewsIs the GP Co-payment dead, or is it just resting?
Is the GP Co-payment dead, or is it just resting?

Is the GP Co-payment dead, or is it just resting?

Tags: Consumer Action Cost of Living Private Health Insurance Sticking Up for FiftyUps
Last updated by Someone on

d&mHere at the FiftyUp Club, we’ve been banging on about healthcare costs for the over-50s all year.

Never more so than when Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey announced plans for a $7 co-payment every time we visit the GP, X-ray or pathologist as part of the Budget earlier this year.

It’s been nearly three months since we travelled to Canberra to meet with the Federal Health Minister on behalf of the Club’s members.

More than 10,000 of you added your voice to Our Submission to Minister Dutton.

So what’s happened since?

Good news is, the Federal Government’s proposal has stalled and we sure hope it stays that way.

Reluctantly the Government put the measure on ‘hold’ as they don’t have the numbers to pass it through the Senate.

The official line from the Government is that they “are still committed to the measure.”

So whilst they haven’t entirely backed down, for the time being at least, it looks like you won’t be paying $7 every time you visit your GP.

Further, I have it from reliable sources in Canberra that it’s as good as dead. Read: too much political pain for too little electoral or fiscal gain.

That’s a huge win for the Club and for each one of you.

On top of our submission, more than 13,000 of you signed our petition calling for greater transparency on the rising cost of private health insurance for FiftyUps.

We made our stance loud and clear when we asked Mr Dutton to publish figures on premium increases by age band, and to reduce the impact of co-payments on Australians aged 50 and over, particularly those on fixed incomes.

To his credit, Mr Dutton gave us a fair hearing. Ours was not the only disenchanted voice.

The sheer weight of numbers has forced a re-evaluation of a universally condemned measure to raise revenue.

It wouldn’t be right for us at the FiftyUp Club to take sole credit for the backdown, but boy, did we add pressure!

Thank you members for your increasing support. And thank you Victoria for jumping on… we now have more than 10,000 of you joined up in less than two weeks.

Victorians have now unlocked deals on Electricity, Car and Health Insurance like the rest of us. And it won’t stop there.

We’ve already filled at least an MCG on Grand Final Day. Politicians and Corporate Australia have realised they ignore that voice at their peril. And we’re barely a year old.

Keep getting on the train. This ride to improve our spending power has only just begun

CLICK HERE to send a Thankyou email to Health Minister Peter Dutton

Originally posted on .

Join the conversation

FiftyUp Club
Is the GP Co-payment dead or is it just Resting?

Share your views with other members. 

Want to leave a comment? or .
Read our moderation policy here.
ronald
ronald from VIC commented:

just another lie from that lying bastard Abbott Julia only changed her mind once and got hounded out of office ron 

Peter
Peter from QLD commented:

Please don't celebrate on this pensioners behalf, a lousy $7.00 or a max of $70 per year to promote the findings of new cures, so what if it may only help my grand children's era. The cost of the last labor governments both State and Federal cost us a hell of a lot more than $7. Peter Queensland 

Kerrie
Kerrie from NSW commented:

I am a pensioner and I agree with the $7 co payment if it helps save medicare then $70 a year will do me.We have a great health system but we all must do our part. 

konrad
konrad from QLD commented:

Keep up your good work. I am fed up with the Tony Abbot's government and next elections I will not vote for them for the first time. They have totally betrayed us and will continue to do so. 

Robert
Robert from NSW commented:

Absolutely and incredibly selfish and stupid to think you have done a great thing by trying to eliminate a lousy $7 fee. Do you have any idea what NZ is paying? Nothing is free and remember that, one day somebody else will bring this in and you are going to do the same nonsense and protest. Where is your sense of responsibility. The country is BROKE or will be shortly if people protest on everything the government wants to introduce - now we have those who will protest about the increase in petrol pricing - how many of you pay $1.40 one day and a little later the price has gone to $1.56 - where are you wonderful people to complain about that? Wake up Australia, it is your future you are playing with. I support a co payment and I personally do not agree with you John Mangos - I think you have made an awful mistake - when you scare the public this is the sort of rubbish you get. PITY. This is "our" country. 

jen
jen from NSW commented:

I would like the health funds to cover me properly.I feel I am too much out of pocket after treatment.I am not one of those people who think a co-payment is a bad thing-I wouldn't mind paying it, but I do resent paying large health fund premiums and getting very little back. 

Barry
Barry from VIC commented:

It was a dumb and stupid idea to even attempt it, introduce a fee for the numbers of non emergency cases in Emergency Wards equivalent GP fee to encourage them to go to a GP 

Julie
Julie from NSW commented:

Whilst I am a member of the 50 up club I have been against this campaign. I for one am very keen to see Medicare continue which will be unlikely if costs to provide medical treatment continue to spiral. $7 (with caps in place) I feel is a reasonable price to pay to ensure that medicare can continue in its present form. The only other alternative will be to exclude certain services from medicare - not a good solution. 

Kevin
Kevin from QLD replied to Julie:

I put my hand up to support the co-payment, provided it is limited to 10 payouts in one 12-month time frame. I don't see it as too great an impost to help keep Medicare and to help spread the financial burden needed to ensure Australia stays afloat. It seems to me the noisy want more and more and more of everything but do not want to pay anymore or anything. Unless we all contribute, where is the money supposed to come from? Cutting unnecessary expenditure yes, but that won't happen to what most see as an acceptable level and, anyway, what I see as unnecessary expenditure, others see as necessary. Let's be fair dinkum and do what is best for the country as a whole. But there must be safeguards, too, so the genuinely unable to pay still receive necessities. 

Sue
Sue from NSW commented:

Not everyone agrees with dumping the co payment. So stop slapping yourself so the back for bad decision 

Ann
Ann from NSW commented:

I support a co-payment of seven dollars for those who can afford it. I understand that the amount we would be required to pay per year is capped. AsI have a grandson with an extremely rare blood disorder, I feel it is imperative that we have the funds for medical research. Those who are doing the most whingeing, would not have to contribute anyway. Ann Wyatt 

Comment Guidelines