How to Get a GP Doctor to Bulk Bill You?

LStephanie360 on 02/05/2018 - 07:15
Last edited 02/05/2018 - 11:42 by 1 other user

Doctors in Australia are so expensive when it should be free. In Europe healthcare is free - we just walk into a specialist doctors clinic and will be seen or get an appointment, no need for referral from a GP. No need to pay.

Here doctors get money from government and still ask you to pay. I have to pay $70 to just see a GP. How do you get your GP doctor to bulk bill you? I have tried the following which have worked:

  • tell them how long you waited and it would not be fair to charge
  • say “just a quick one” and tell them what you need like a script or certificate.
  • usually they won’t charge just for a script, so say you just want a script then talk about what you need to see them for

However without trying the above and I just ask them if they will bulk bill me up they will say no. It is stupid here. So ridiculous.

Healthcare should be free. Share your strategies on how to be bulk billed. I am still trying to get specialists to bulk bulk. We need to help each other.

Health & Beauty

Comments

  • payton on 02/05/2018 - 07:19
    +198

    rofl

    • barbarella on 02/05/2018 - 09:34
      +10

      …and then get put in the loony bin instantly :P

      • [Deactivated] on 02/05/2018 - 10:29
        +6

        Don't worry, it's free and bulk billed.

        • D6C1 on 02/05/2018 - 11:26
          +6

          Free accommodation too!

    • Scrooge McDuck on 02/05/2018 - 15:03
      +24

      Everything should be free, we need to help each other!!

  • retiredfeline on 02/05/2018 - 07:20
    +109

    Go to a surgery that states they bulk bill. They have to be set up for BB, they don't do it on a case by case basis.

    BTW is there a finder's reward? 😉

    • djsweet on 02/05/2018 - 08:13
      +13

      Surgeries do not need a special set up for bulk billing. Also they can (and some do) bulk bill on a case by case basis. Sometimes if your GP refers you to a specialist they can ask for you to be bulk billed. The Dr requesting bulk billing on your behalf usually works out better than you requesting it yourself.

      • Quantumcat on 02/05/2018 - 09:53
        +2

        Yes they do need to be set up with Medicare to bulk bill. Many small surgeries are not set up for it and require the patient to apply for a Medicare refund themselves.

        • djsweet on 02/05/2018 - 10:27
          +2

          I mean they don't need anything different from what nearly all surgeries have. I am yet to find one that doesn't have the HICAPS machine (not saying they don't exist). In any case (HICAPS or not), the set up does not differ in any way between Bulk Bill and Non-Bulk Bill. All practices get the Medicare rate whether or not they bulk bill.

        • Jackson on 02/05/2018 - 18:36

          @djsweet: except some choose not to 'bulk bill' just because the doctor doesnt feel like it/wants to charge more. I guess it depends on your definition also, most people expect that bulk bill means nothing extra. Its easy to see how people think they are not set up for it when the minimum wage admin lady tells the "we arent set up for it"

        • Quantumcat on 02/05/2018 - 20:42

          @djsweet: I've been to two without a HICAPS machine

        • Meconium on 03/05/2018 - 11:39
          +3

          @djsweet: Exactly, they all get the Medicare rate even if they charge more on top of it. If a GP considers themselves worthy of a higher rate owing to their specialised skills, they are permitted to charge it, and the patient is permitted to go to a different doctor with different skills if they want.

          May not be fair as medical treatment is a necessity in life, but that’s how it is. If you want it to change and for our medicine to be socialised the way it used to be, petition our elected leaders.

          Personally I think dental treatment is a more urgent target of reform, as dentistry isn’t covered under Medicare. Not sure why that is.

        • virhlpool on 03/05/2018 - 18:20

          @Jackson:

          But not bulk billing means paying from pocket and then claiming from Medicare, if eligible. If at all it is eligible for refund, one gets only a partial refund. Isn't that correct?

          So for patients full bulk billing always works out better. Correct me if I am wrong.

        • MorriJ on 03/05/2018 - 19:01
          +8

          @virhlpool: It depends on how the billing is applied and the scenario.

          Scenario 1:
          Doctor Bulk Bills <- they get paid from the medicare after they batch the payments for each consult and receive the medicare benefit fee
          Doctor spends up to 10 mins with you (or 10m at most, else it becomes extended consult).
          You don't pay out of pocket

          Scenario 2:
          Doctor doesn't bulk bill, but charges the Medicare Schedule Fee for the consult
          You pay the doctor the medicare schedule fee ($36.30), you then claim that exact amount back from medicare ($36.30)

          Scenario 3:
          Doctor doesn't bulk bill, feels they are worth more than $36.30 for 10 mins (around $200/hr +/- $50/hr) and charges you a higher fee than the medicare schedule fee (eg $50).
          You pay out of pocket on the day.
          You can claim back the medicare schedule fee for the item number ($36.30 for standard consult).
          You cannot claim back the difference between the MBS fee and the amount the doctor charged.

        • tonsta on 04/05/2018 - 13:56

          @Quantumcat: witch doctor?

        • super8 on 05/05/2018 - 07:18

          @djsweet:

          I've only ever seen one, GP surgery at Thredbo Village.

      • retiredfeline on 03/05/2018 - 20:05
        +1

        Let me put it another way. Here are some of the things a bulk bill clinic is set up not to do: engage a clerk to manage appointments and the waiting room, have a payment collection system, etc. Once a gap billing clinic has these things they will prefer to pay for the outlay.

        I actually like my BB doctor better than the previous gap billing one, and BB isn't the main reason; I can pay. I chose that clinic after asking friends. He's an old school doctor who diagnosed my additional ailment right away. The previous one was a new young chap who was diffident and the clinic had been turned into a franchise in a chain so I gave up on that clinic after many years of loyalty.

        My medical needs are not complex, must consultations are under 15 min. It's walk in but the wait is no worse than an appointment clinic, if one chooses a slack hour. So it works well for me. Others should choose the appropriate clinic for them.

    • R-Man on 02/05/2018 - 09:50
      +3

      BTW is there a finder's reward? 😉

      Following to see how Stephanie gets ya to bulk bill this fee too

      She should have specified in the post how 'long she waited before being able to post' or how this post was 'just a quick one'

    • iDroid on 02/05/2018 - 13:02

      Some absolutely do it on a case by case basis.

      I go to the same surgery all the time, sometimes they bulk bill, some times not.

  • altomic on 02/05/2018 - 07:20
    +93

    find a bulk billing clinic and go there instead.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 02/05/2018 - 15:04
      +71

      Alternatively, go to Europe instead.

      • [Deactivated] on 02/05/2018 - 20:50
        +18

        Just don’t go to America. When I was living there, a friend had a blocked sinus causing some pain. He went and they did some checks and gave him a decongestant.

        Unfortunately, he didn’t follow the process right, and his insurance didn’t cover that doctor. The visit cost him $7000.

        Australia is pretty good by comparison.

        • gimme on 03/05/2018 - 08:42
          +7

          Describe "some checks". 7k for a GP visit sounds made up

        • cameldownunder on 03/05/2018 - 14:41
          +3

          @gimme: EKG, PET scan, Blood Screening, DNA mapping, RMI scan. The Basic work.

        • [Deactivated] on 04/05/2018 - 08:34
          +4

          @cameldownunder:

          DNA mapping

          Ancestry.com would've been cheaper.

        • rodinthink on 05/05/2018 - 23:15
          +2

          All for decongestant.
          Why dont just go to pharmacy and consult with pharmacist instead and buy the medicine directly.

        • [Deactivated] on 06/05/2018 - 11:25

          @gimme:

          They did three different scans.

          Basically if they can justify doing it, they’ll do it and bill for it.

          In the end, he took some decongestant and went on antihistamines. Problem solved.

          The US has sheer profit-based medical treatment. Unnecessary scans and treatment are standard practice.

        • LUTSlit on 07/05/2018 - 20:17
          -1

          Ridiculous story.

        • Piranha2004 on 08/05/2018 - 08:33

          @marlor: Sounds like the crap that happens in India. Ive seen some crazy stuff in the Indian hospitals (i.e. billing people to perform tests on the already deceased.)

        • [Deactivated] on 08/05/2018 - 09:11
          +2

          @gimme: I am in the states and had to go to hospital. I was in there about 3 hours and had one x-ray, one ultrasound taken. $8k + additional bills arriving from any specialist who happened to have glanced at the scans taken.

          However I am fully insured and made sure all doctors were "in-network" with my insurer (that's likely the check the op's friend failed to do). By agreement with my insurer the hospital halved the bill to 4k. So if you don't have insurance you're essentially giving the hospital a blank cheque.

        • [Deactivated] on 08/05/2018 - 12:25

          @w8:

          My friend had just arrived in the US to work at a startup, and his employer had the bare minimum health insurance that you could still call insurance. He also went to an out-of-network hospital, because he had extreme sinus pain, was in a hurry, and didn't know there was even such a thing as in-network and out-of-network.

          I can see above that people are casting doubt on the $7k figure, but it is the literal truth. I saw the bills. I was staying with him when they arrived.

          In the end, they put him on a payment plan, and he spent two years paying off the treatment.

          Afterwards, he insisted that the employer get better insurance, which they eventually did.

        • Ti-au on 17/05/2018 - 17:41

          @marlor: yes, us Drs/Hospitals are famous for ordering tests that are not needed.

    • avidd on 02/05/2018 - 20:48
      +19

      This answer easily solves the OP's issue. Bulk billing clinics are free but OP insists on ozbargaining her healthcare?

      You get good quality and free healthcare, what makes you feel like you are more important than everyone else who needs to see a GP or a specialist?

      If you feel the need to be picky with who you want to see or want a GP who can afford to spend more time with you… then pay for the service. Being manipulative is insulting and will definitely not get you sympathy.

  • Presence on 02/05/2018 - 07:23
    +109

    tell them how long you waited and it would not be fair to charge

    You have to be joking, right?

      • Presence on 02/05/2018 - 09:28
        +126

        You are delusional.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 02/05/2018 - 15:05
          +57

          Better get a referral to a psychologist.

        • WishIHadAfridge on 02/05/2018 - 17:24
          +16

          @Scrooge McDuck:

          And demand for that to be free too

        • fossilfuel on 02/05/2018 - 21:21
          +3

          @Scrooge McDuck: No thanks, we'll shove her off to a psychiatrist. Therapy ain't gonna fix what she has but a drugs and lobotomy might.

        • cameldownunder on 03/05/2018 - 14:42

          I don't know if I should upvote @Presence or downvote @Strphanie360.

      • [Deactivated] on 02/05/2018 - 09:33
        +20

        Do you demand your train fares be refunded too if your train is more than 30 mins late?

        Do you walk out of a restaurant too if your meal is more than 30 mins late?

        • Hybroid on 02/05/2018 - 09:38
          +13

          Not the best analogies because in some countries, yes, you do claim for delay refunds on trains. Also, you're entitled to complain if you wait for 30 mins for a meal and can either be refunded or walk out (after advising them).

          Examples:
          https://www.virgintrains.co.uk/delayrepay
          https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/replacements-and-refun…
          https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/about-us/our-performance/del…

          However, demanding free service at a Doctors due to extended wait delays is definitely not appropriate. They are under no obligation to serve you at all.

          Having said that, I have no idea what bulk billing is and online searching isn't helping.

        • Exorcist on 02/05/2018 - 10:55
          -1

          @Hybroid: this practice exists (letting people wait for hours even though they made appointments) because they are trying to maximise profit. So next time you book a table in a restaurant but still wait 2 hours, you should know the restaurant is under no obligation to serve you at all.

        • iDroid on 02/05/2018 - 13:20
          +2

          I don't.

          But if I booked an appointment for a train to be there at a particular time, then sounds fair.

          If I've booked a meal for a particular time and it's 30mins late, then perhaps.

          Surgeries seem to have some special pass to over book to maximise their profits while we all sit back and say "it's ok, they're doctors, they can waste our time however they like".

          True story.

        • idonotknowwhy on 02/05/2018 - 14:49
          +4

          @Hybroid:

          Having said that, I have no idea what bulk billing is and online searching isn't helping.

          Bulk Billing is the practice of only charging the medicare contribution for a GP consultation. Upon departure, the patient just hands over the Medicare number and walks out.

          This is as opposed to "Paying the gap", where the customer pays the full amount (eg. $90) minus the medicare rebate (eg. $37.50). In this instance, the patient just pays $90 - $37.50 = $52.50.

          The less common payment method is where the customer pays the full amount (eg. $90) and then claims $37.50 from medicare. I tend to opt for this so I can pay on AMEX and get points for the full price, then get my rebate. This effectively loans me the $37.50 off my credit card, which I can pay off 2 days before the due date.

        • Hybroid on 02/05/2018 - 15:43
          +1

          @idonotknowwhy: Thank you for taking time for that explanation, quite helpful.

        • ronnknee on 02/05/2018 - 15:58

          Do you walk out of a restaurant too if your meal is more than 30 mins late?

          Honestly, I do not feel it's wrong to leave if it's taken that long (especially if they didn't warn you).

        • SlickMick on 03/05/2018 - 11:53

          @Hybroid:
          As I was reading previous post, I thought: in an ideal world, maybe we should be compensated for these things :)

          I don't look forward to the day when we'll sue the train system for a lifetime of lost wages because we didn't get to an interview on time

        • cameldownunder on 03/05/2018 - 14:44

          "Do you walk out of a restaurant too if your meal is more than 30 mins late?"

          I would ! Expected meal in 15 minutes, if it's not at my table in 45 mins, yes, I probably will have left before.

        • Frugal on 03/05/2018 - 23:36

          @Hybroid:

          What if the prior patient’s consult ran longer than the booked appt? GPs also have to fully discharge their duty of care or be sued if they miss something.

        • Deridas on 04/05/2018 - 12:43

          Well, actually, yes, we do demand reimbursement for late/cancelled trains, it's the fashion nowadays.

          https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/373984

        • Prizm on 05/05/2018 - 09:22

          @Hybroid: "Having said that, I have no idea what bulk billing is and online searching isn't helping."

          Bulk bill is a stupid term that is vague and meaningless to the unaware public. It likely refers to when surgeries would fill out a manual rebate form per patient, and then send a large batch of the forms to Medicare in bulk in order to claim the Medicare rebate.

          The other official name is direct billing, which makes a bit more sense, but this term isn't as common.

        • Lysander on 05/05/2018 - 15:04

          @hamsummation:

          If you have made a reservation the situation us different as they could charge you if not turning up, just like doctors do. From that aspect with doctors it is also a two way street.

        • Lysander on 05/05/2018 - 15:05

          @cameldownunder:

          I would and do. In some places it is free if not there in 30 minutes.

        • Pibroch on 08/05/2018 - 10:25

          @Hybroid: I’ve got a refund from V/Line in Australia for late trains - they didn’t meet their performance indicators over a set period and I produced my tickets as proof of my eligibility for the late trains I used.

          It pays to ask questions like the original poster is doing. She’s not crazy, but those keyboard warrior posters who haven’t got the smarts or the balls to stand up for themselves are likely neurotic.

          • If You Don’t Ask You Don’t Get
      • SydStrand on 02/05/2018 - 13:39
        +2

        George Costanza over here.

        'We cannot disturb the delicate genius at work!'

      • ninetyNineCents on 05/05/2018 - 17:25

        You do realise that BB doctors arent free as well oir dont you pay any tax ?

      • WatermelonJuice on 07/05/2018 - 08:24

        hahaha I think you should look for Dr Pizza Hut

    • Exorcist on 02/05/2018 - 11:00

      Why do you think he is joking, unless you are a GP, then you don't want people to know what you are actually doing

    • The Informer on 02/05/2018 - 17:21
      +3

      Shout-out Marion Domain Medical Centre

      • Safoan on 04/05/2018 - 21:45

        Marion domain do not bulk bill to non Medicare card holder(international students with Medicare level helth cover). It was the closest one to my uni when I moved here and I was charged 120 dollars and I only got back 36 dollars where they charge other people with Medicare only the Medicare amount. I was very new to Australia and didn't know much about it but I find it very unethical to charge more to people who do not have Medicare and take advantage of them. I think they do it to take advantage of new students like me as it's closer to Flinders.

    • Twilight on 05/05/2018 - 14:21
      +1

      Pretty funny considering chumps like this are the reason everyone has to wait. "Oh yeah, I only want a script" <totally (profanity) up the scheduling by taking 5 x longer than their appointment scheduled for>

  • ego22 on 02/05/2018 - 07:23
    +7

    wow

  • Hoju on 02/05/2018 - 07:26
    +48

    Go to USA, then complain about what you have here

    • syousef on 02/05/2018 - 11:10
      +36

      Way to participate in a race to the bottom.

    • bringbring on 02/05/2018 - 15:33
      +2

      And besides, what sort of waiting list do you get put on in 'europe' (very broad definition)

      The UK seems fairly similar to here - can go the free route but you'll have to wait.

      • Meconium on 03/05/2018 - 11:42

        UK’s better than here - their wait times can be extraordinary but you can get free treatment eventually. Here, a lot of places don’t have any bulk billing doctors, full stop.

        • Frugal on 03/05/2018 - 23:38
          +1

          Where’s here?

        • [Deactivated] on 06/05/2018 - 11:28

          @Frugal:

          If you go outside if Sydney, then bulk billing clinics get hard to find.

          I’ve got a choice of paying $40 to see my local GP or driving an hour to the nearest clinic that bulk bills.

          My time is worth more than $40, so I just pay the extra.

    • virhlpool on 03/05/2018 - 18:23
      +1

      Why to compare with the much worse, mate? Look up and not down. And if America, look for so many better's that they have starting from very basics - jobs, technology, economy, infra, affordability at large and endless others. It is funny how people bring in 'convenience' when they compare places. If comparison, be it fair.

  • [Deactivated] on 02/05/2018 - 07:31
    +41

    Healthcare should be free.

    You have to pay for it somehow, whether upfront or through higher taxes.

    • Wystri Warrick on 02/05/2018 - 09:36
      +85

      Definitely true.
      I prefer a public healthcare system, and to pay for it through taxes, taxes are the price that we as society pay for civilization.
      In this day and age I think everyone should be living healthy and happy lives.
      This is the 21st century, we have sent people to Moon and we are going to be landing on Mars, our civilization has achieved great things, but the fact that we still have problems such as mass starvation, healthcare, education, homelessness, violence and wars is ridiculous.
      It's not about left vs right etc., this is about our species, and where we want to go as a species.

      Sorry I drifted off, I'm just sick of all the fighting.

      • MathNerd on 02/05/2018 - 10:04
        +5

        Well put Wystri. Here, have a +1.

      • MementoMori on 02/05/2018 - 14:11
        +5

        "taxes are the price that we as society pay for civilization"

        Income tax was 3% when this quote was said

        • Wystri Warrick on 02/05/2018 - 17:04

          3%, I thought income tax was much higher?

        • Wystri Warrick on 03/05/2018 - 00:04
          +4

          @irony: Hehe no I was completely surprised, baffled when domcc1 said 3% income tax, because I know the tax rate and money smarts tax calculator.
          My comment shows that I'm confused, I don't understand what domcc1 said and presumed that he must of meant to say 30%, a typo.
          If anything based on what I said it looks like I'm complaining that the tax rate is ‘much higher', to high.

          BTW I didn't downvote you :).

        • Greihawk on 03/05/2018 - 16:04
          +4

          @Wystri Warrick: I thought it was pretty obvious that he was referring to the fact that the quote you used was first used a long time ago when tax rates were substantially different then they are now, one of the first references to be found for it is the following quote, "Taxation is the price which we pay for civilization, for our social, civil and political institutions, for the security of life and property, and without which, we must resort to the law of force." which was written in 1852 in Vermont USA.

        • Wystri Warrick on 03/05/2018 - 21:21

          @Greihawk: Oh so domcc1 was referring to the taxation in the US in 1852 and not to me, now and in Aus.
          I didn't know about that and was thinking 3% no that can't be right that's not how the Aus income tax works.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 02/05/2018 - 15:21
        +10

        If everyone is a rocket scientist, who will collect the garbage?

        When robots can, inept people will be a pure deadweight on society.

        Individuals struggling is a natural consequence of a species which engages in free birthing and a moral hazard for societies which incentivise procreation through dysgenic welfare policies.

        • cameldownunder on 03/05/2018 - 14:48
          -1

          You saying that if we would have less subsidized kids, the overall IQ would go up?

        • Scrooge McDuck on 03/05/2018 - 15:08
          +3

          @cameldownunder:

          *fewer

          And yes I am.

          Welfare queens don't tend to produce smart children.

          And smart parents are less incentivised to reproduce by welfare.

        • Wystri Warrick on 03/05/2018 - 23:49
          +1

          When robots can, inept people will be a pure deadweight on society.

          When robots can, what do you suggest we do with the inept?

          Robots are going to take over people's jobs it's inevitable, it's only when.
          Unlike people robots are so much more cheaper, they can work continuously, don't demand pay rises, don't strike, and don't creat unions, they are predictable and reliable.

          When robots take over the jobs of the masses what are you, me and the inept people going to do for a living?
          We are redundant.

        • scheps on 04/05/2018 - 00:11

          @Scrooge McDuck:

          idiocracy is a movie depicting just that

        • Scrooge McDuck on 04/05/2018 - 03:11

          @Wystri Warrick:

          When robots can, what do you suggest we do with the inept?

          At the moment we give them unemployment benefits, parenting payments, rental assistance, etc.

          I propose that we offer everyone a bonus to undergo vasectomy/tubal ligation and require it for continued payments to long term welfare dependent people.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 04/05/2018 - 03:13
          +1

          @Wystri Warrick:

          When robots take over the jobs of the masses what are you, me and the inept people going to do for a living?

          I'm a capitalist, I'll be fine until the robot revolution. Then we're all fugged!

        • Wystri Warrick on 04/05/2018 - 08:30

          @Scrooge McDuck:
          Haha :) I think we're all going to be fugged, the only positions that I can see being safe ATM are the arts, culture, science and politicians!

          Middle income earners are going to be hit first.
          The highly skilled professions surgeon, lawyers etc. are safe for now, it's going to be a while until robots are this sophisticated.
          Replacing low income earners cleaners, rubbish collectors etc. Isn't going to be the most economical decision.

          The global economy is going to get a big shake up, big data is going to absolutely revolutionise the way commodities are distributed.
          The blockchain, P2P, AI along with big data is going to drastically change the financial sector.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 04/05/2018 - 11:01
          +3

          @Wystri Warrick:

          Alternatively:

          When robots take over the jobs of the masses what are you, me and the inept people going to do for a living?

          Write jokes on OzBargain.

        • Wystri Warrick on 04/05/2018 - 16:06

          @Scrooge McDuck: Haha I'll drink to that lol :).

          BTW great to see you back from your absence on Ozbargain.
          scubacoles has been absent for a while too, he has just logged in, but I used to see him so frequently on Ozbargain.
          I miss BrodenIt and Savas.

      • jacross on 03/05/2018 - 08:22
        +3

        Mass starvation and extreme poverty has improved enormously over the last century.

        Not that I'm advocating for a pause to endwavours. You just seem like you needed some good news.

        • Wystri Warrick on 03/05/2018 - 11:55

          Hehe yes I could definitely use some good news jacross :).

          I'm young, and hope by the time my time comes we will be a unified prosperous knowledge based civilization, where robots will have taken over all the mundane jobs and we can dedicate ourselves to science, literature, art etc.
          I mean just think about it, where we think of ourselves as a species and where we want to go as a species instead of like individuals, there's no you and me, there's only we, all of us.

          Nations, borders, culture, religion, politics and race they aren't natural things that exist, they don't exist in the natural world, they are our creations, concepts that only exist in our minds, when will we all look in the mirror and see that we are all human beings, we are all the same.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 03/05/2018 - 15:17

          @Wystri Warrick:

          … but some are more similar than others.

        • [Deactivated] on 03/05/2018 - 23:06
          +1

          this is a decent read if you want some context and confirmation that things are indeed a little better now than in the past, although we should keep improving for sure:

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Better_Angels_of_Our_Natur…

        • twinbag on 05/05/2018 - 14:02

          @Wystri Warrick:

          Borders are very much part of the natural world, especially among predators. However in an ideal world we wouldn't have them.

        • [Deactivated] on 03/04/2019 - 08:28

          Did you notice that 'Mass starvation and extreme poverty has improved' by communist china or with a help of communist china.

      • [Deactivated] on 04/05/2018 - 21:03

        healthcare should absolutely not be free. if at all it should have some co-payment from the patient maybe 10$ or something so people don't waste doctors time and only people who really need healthcare should get it. Healthcare is NOT a right. Government should get out of this business and let free market take care of this business and you will notice cost of xrays and MRIs going down quickly. Doctors from India and other countries will be happy to come and help for dollars. Same goes for dentistry. We are paying way too much taxes to keep this system afloat. People on dole are pumping babies for more entitlements and we keep working harder and harder to sustain them. i waited 4 hours to be treated for kidney stones pain and i pay more tha 35K of taxes each year. its ridiculous. Drug addicts should not be allowed in the hospital. Their experiment with life has failed. That's another saving there. Stop free money and stop people from expecting free stuff. Nothing is free in this world. lower the taxes,Buy your own private health insurance and be responsible kid. Don't rely on taxpayer. Keep your dignity intact

        • bringbring on 05/05/2018 - 08:38

          You talk of dignity?

        • ninetyNineCents on 05/05/2018 - 17:27

          Its a fact that many older types have nothing better to do than go visit the doctor, because its free. Same goes for dole bludgers who want a medical certificate to get off centerlink commitments.

        • nikey2k27 on 04/04/2019 - 09:07

          How about no this space I am happy for Gov and Medicare Go to USA. After spent time in USA proud to pay tax know it going medicare.

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