The extra medical costs… Will you be able to afford them?

How does the budget affect you? How it affects you is, after all, the only gauge to whether it’s good or bad. Very little reaction has been shown by the lower income percentage of the population on issues that will have a devastating impact on their lives. In an already failing health system the intended changes will increase disability recipients, especially those with chronic health conditions, costs in accessing their doctors, purchasing their prescriptions and in some situations payment for parking at escalating prices to access relevant services, a nightmare.

Real figures on coming health costs
The real figures pertaining to the coming changes will be implemented in July 2015. The $7 doctor’s fee for all health card holders will be capped at $70 per year. The Pharmaceutical fees will be around 80 cents extra. When you have two people on pensions, the added One hundred and forty dollars costs per year to visit your doctor will make quite an impact on the annual budget. Local GP’s have the ability to waive the $7 fee for their customers, a move that would be a very advisable one if they wish to keep customers. One question that is being asked is “Will the $7 apply to all Medicare items such as Care Plans for chronic conditions?”. There are many others questions to come.

Gradual eradication of essential services
The removal of Home and Community Care (HAAC), whose services were handed over to other care organisations over the past few years, has already seen the removal of free services to those in need of help to remain in their own homes. The replacement services added a payment for every visit that is made to the home. These services were supposedly bought in to keep people in their homes longer but now like everything else it all is going to come at a cost. It is very sad for those older people who have, owing to the nature of their illness, to access the doctors more than once a week.

“If the health was a thing that money could buy, the rich would thrive and the poor would die.”

A well know old saying that is very applicable to the introduction of Private Health Insurance and re-placement of free hospital systems. The government has been working for many years now to eradicate the free hospital system and looks like it has finally happened. “Take out private health insurance” is the advice thrown out, but again those with chronic conditions don’t qualify for it. Large proportions of people with a single parent income and a couple of children simply can’t afford health insurance along with many others.

Does the looming decrease in the health of the lower income and disability sectors lesson the cost of the resultant increase in medical costs needs that will ultimately impact on Australia as a whole. All members of Starts at 60 will both understand the enormity of the changes on their community and the importance sharing of information on this very informative site as to how it is affecting everybody in all aspects of enjoying their latter years whilst retaining the best health possible.

Will your personal or family budget be heavily affected by the changes proposed to the medical sector in the budget? Share your thoughts on whether the changes are helpful or not in the comments below…