Comments on: What do you think we’re running here? Medicare?

By: Peter H

Peter H — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

A terrific piece on private health funds. The “Health Fund manager” could also have mentioned the need to attract customers by allowing payments to ineffective alternative treatments. Because they usually don’t work many repeat visits are needed.

By: Clive

Clive — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Has anyone got an old Hilmer Report gathering dust? Might be time the Feds and States had another look. Could we see some good old rationalising of this industry or is it just too protected, oops, I meant sacred!

By: William Slaney

William Slaney — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Jennifer Doggett , the problem with you health fund managers is that you treat illness as an industry. It is not. The young are too financially struck with paying off morgages and they take the risk. The sooner the health insurance collapses the better

By: steve

steve — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

The 30% Private Health Insurance Subsidy is pure and simple - WELFARE - middle class welfare - Maggie Thatcher would be disgusted!

By: william slaney

william slaney — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Because we members are censored by length I have added this. The nation’s health is the collective resposibility of the nation, not private industry. Massive short funding of public hospitals does not improve the service. Mr. Howard a I like comment !

By: John James

John James — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Medicare is”.low cost, efficient, equitable, popular.. ” Surely anything that was free at the point of sale would be popular? The health budget is burgeoning and medicare queues are lengthening. There has to be a price signal to arrest this expenditure.

By: R D

R D — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

With the states pleading for more hospital funding, I wonder if consideration has been given to pulling money from the 30% private health insurance subsidy? I think research has showed that the subsidy had not reduced demand on the public system.

By: Moi

Moi — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Many health ins’ce funds are not-for-profit. Most health ins’ce prof’ls would agree with radical changes.
I agree with the suggestion for the subsidy to be ditched. Should never have been introduced. In the 70s most people insured… what’s changed?

By: Ian McAuley

Ian McAuley — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

Jennifer — excellent and clear document. I hope the Treasurer, the Health Minister(s), and all on the Government’s new Commission read it, and understand it. We need to retain private delivery of health care, but not private health insurance.