Australian health insurance premiums just had their biggest hike in a decade. Is it time to scrap private health cover?

Comments

• Zagorath@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  Yes.

  Scrap the scams that are the Medicare Levy Surcharge and the Lifetime Health Cover loading. They’re nothing but government-permitted extortion on behalf of private companies. Scrap them, and add mental and dental to Medicare.

  source

  • prex@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    +1
    Medicare is means tested. I see no reason for a health insurance industry.

    source

    • Zagorath@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      Medicare is means tested

      No it’s not? That’s the whole point of it. It’s universal. What Medicare covers, it covers for everyone. And that “what it covers” should be expanded greatly.

      All reasonably medically necessary healthcare should be covered, for a very broad definition of “necessary”. If it’s purely cosmetic, no, but if it relates to real pain or quality of life, it should be covered. The Lasik I got a decade ago is not necessary and I’m fine with it not being covered, but the X-rays, ultrasound, and MRI on my foot due to injury that prevented me from being able to run or walk too briskly without pain were, and should have been covered. (They actually were covered, but at the time I was told it was a temporary thing brought in because of COVID, and would not normally have been.) So should yearly (if not twice-yearly) dental checkups and any procedures arising from that.

      source
    • Mantzy81@aussie.zone ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      It’s not means tested at all, it is however means funded if that’s what you were meaning

      source
• SaneMartigan@aussie.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  It’s always been time to scrap private health cover. Disgusting that it was ever introduced.

  source
• hanrahan@slrpnk.net ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  Yes

  source
• Salvo@aussie.zone ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  The only redeeming aspect of Private Health insurance is that it is a big employer.

  Australia does not have any more primary or secondary industry any more. Closing down the Private Health Insurance Companies will make a helluva lot of people unemployed.

  That said; these roles are just a leech on the community, without actually generating anything that benefits our society.

  source

  • notgold@aussie.zone ⁨18⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

    1. I’m sure many of the roles would move to the public system if there was a mass exodus.
    2. Most people get private insurance because it’s useful and not for the tax dodge so they won’t cancel if the tax incentive is removed. /s

    source
• 0ddysseus@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  Yes

  source