And another example of you spreading misinformation on the Internet http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/ruralhealth-services-rfds.htm
We insure our house, car and business, so why the uproar over health insurance? Using your logic, car insurers should contribute to the cost of establishing panel beating shops, so that their services would be available when required. ? Obviously car insurers are not going to make a payment if no services are rendered, why should they ? Do you pay your mechanic just to "be around" in case you might need him/her.? The fact is that there is that where there is demand for services that sufficient people enter the industry ( both panel beating & medical) to satisfy that demand at an appropriate price point ( basic economics ). What the government does is provide some services as a "public good", but as resources, by definition are limited, there are limits to how much public good is provided ( eg medical services to remote and rural communities). Compounding this is that Australia is one of the most urbanised countries in the world, with the vast majority of the population living in 6 major centres and a small amount of the population spread thinly across the rest of the continent. People are dreaming if they think that a similar level of services ( medical or education ) are going to be available to the 400,000 or so people that live outside the 5 major centres in Australia. Health insurance companies have been around for a while ( ie before Medicare). They exist and continue to exist because they fill a need in the marketplace, and not all are run as a business to benefit shareholders, some are run as a not for profit organisation. EG "As Australias largest not-for-profit health fund, HCF is uniquely positioned to offer great value health cover. Unlike some other funds, we give our members more, not shareholders. More benefits, more cover and more savings. HCF was established in 1932 to provide the community with the means of insuring against the cost of hospital care. Since then, it has grown to become one of the countrys largest combined private health insurance and life insurance organisation. HCFs mission is to satisfy the needs of Australians for access to affordable, high quality health care when and where they need it, personal protection, and peace of mind." M
I wonder what would happen if all the money paid to health insurance was put into a fund which was used only to pay for costs of providing health services, and all health services were free, with better treatment being available to those who elect to pay a bit extra (like the current gap) at the very least, it might cut out a lot of 'middle men'
Hmmm...maths maybe but comprehension maybe not....I think if you have another read of Kerrari's post you will see she is referring to capital cities, not all urban areas. In this regard her figures are pretty close. About 60% of Aussies live in our capitals and about 75% in major cities (populations greater than 100,00)
According to Aus Bureau of statistics 2/3 live in the capital cities, hence my 1/3 comment. Yes, I understand insutance companies are profit-making companies - that's my point! The money they 'pay' to the doctor comes from the pool contributed by the people paying the insurance. The gap between what people pay into insurance and what the insurance company pays out is called 'profit'. My point is, the insurance doesn't contribute anything DIRECTLY to the provision of private services (see Greg's reply above)
Source? I've spent a lot of time in the outback and it is pretty deserted!! PS: Mount Isa is a city too
My point exactly! Surely a better system would be to fund both private and public health directly... IF there was some method in place to contribute to startup costs of private clinics, people like Pap might get some service. My whole beef in this argument is I'd like to see the money stay in the HEALTH system, not the insurance business.
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure/mcu/soac/index.aspx PS I am not arguing with your urbanisation figures!!!
My beef is with COMPULSORY insurance. I don't expect motor insurers to fund panel shop setups, but a lot of people are under the misapprehension that private insurance funds go tothe medicos...
I stand corrected on this. So why all the fundraising efforts? Many of us here donate to RFDS, so what are we contributing to? Maybe our pilot can enlighten me.
But you are arguing that paying more tax (into general revenue) is better solution!!?? I am saying it isn't! In terms of private insurance paying for infrastructure no it doesn't build hospitals... but it does help fund these if you look at the big picture. Private physicians need rooms, theatres etc, which are paid for through the fees they and the hospital charge. These fees incorporate a capital component as well as an operating one.
Actually, this quote in the link is misleading "The Australian Government has funded the RFDS for over 75 years." It should read "The Australian Government has PART funded the RFDS for over 75 years." The bulk of funding is provided by government, but donations from companies and individuals are absolutely critical to allowing us to do the work we do. Without the donations, either the service would be significantly reduced, or the government would have to come up with MORE money to make up the shortfall. So, your original statement is a reasonable one. The government gets away with paying less than they should for what is an essential service. Believe me, your donations - and those from corporate Australia - are very important and make a huge difference! So, thanks!
The cost of the clinic is insignificant compared to the challenge of getting the specialists to staff it. There is simply not sufficient demand in a region such as Mt Isa. A good friend is a Perth based specialist who travels from Perth to Karratha and Pt Hedland to service their demands - he could not justify living up there. Do you honesty think that the government is a better manager of money than insurance companies (who by definition are tighter than a fish's freckle)? So where do you think private insurance funds go? They may not be used to build clinics but they are used to fund operations. I truly don't understand your issue here
Hmmm, not sure about that one Karen. I would not want the government or an insurer having a say in what equipment I can and cannot buy. Starting up a clinic is easy, staffing it is the hard bit. We find it hard enough to attract new Radiologists to come and work in South West Sydney and the problem ain't money related. Can understand why no one would want to go to Mt Isa
Yep, staffing is the problem. According to my uncle in Rockhampton, it's not the doctors themselves but the wives who don't want to live in hicksville... I wouldn't want to either! Guess I'm just a bit weird caring about and arguing about issues that only affect other people rather than my (fortunate!) self.
