media releases

The Federal Government is considering allowing private health funds to cover GP visits. This is the  height of hypocrisy  claims the Doctors’ Reform Society.  DRS President Dr Peter Davoren said “the Government is worrying about co-payments for people who can afford private health insurance when at the same time it is claiming price barriers are essential to reduce overuse of GPs and is forcing GPs away from bulk-billing by freezing the Medicare rebate for GP visits”.

“The tax-payer will again pick up the tab for spiralling health costs driven by ever increasing doctors fees, said Dr Davoren. “At the same time it will make primary care more inaccessible for all those people without private insurance who will struggle with increasing co-payments”.

The Federal Government is also considering allowing private health insurers to charge more for different categories of patients based on factors such as smoking history, age, gender. Apart from being grossly discriminatory this will also have the effect of pushing more people out of private health insurance into the under-resourced public sector. This is an attempt at social engineering at its worst, punishing all but the healthy wealthy for not being healthy and wealthy.