Getting more pessimistic
This election is turning into a bribe fest. The last one was similar, but this one seems worse.
Labor's put out a terrible policy on health. The Coalition will counter with one in the next few days which will likely be just as bad.
Let's be clear...
1) Urgent medical care is already provided to all citizens (no-waiting lists).
2) Non-urgent medical care is a mix of public (waiting list) and private (jump the waiting list and get your choice of doctor).
Labor's policy (in a nutshell):
1) Extend non-urgent medical care to all seniors over 75 (They already get urgent care provided so it's only the non-urgent that is relevant).
2) Seniors can get the doctor of their choice (it's in their policy documents).
Labor is getting the government to effectively pay for Private Health insurance for all over 75's. For critical and non-critical medical care. Seniors will no longer need private health insurance.
One reasonable arguement is that this will reduce the cost of private health insurance to younger Australians. Yes, this is true. It will also reduce the cost of the 30% rebate to the government. Unfortunately it also means that an optimiser (like myself) no longer needs to take out private health insurance as the most likely scenario is that the bulk of your health care costs are when you are over 75.
The part that is not considered is that what will seniors do now that elective hospital procedures are free with no waiting list?
Answer: Increase their demand.
Who pays? Won't be the baby boomers. They will be retiring in the near future. Yes it's the small shrinking workforce we keep hearing about.
Labor's put out a terrible policy on health. The Coalition will counter with one in the next few days which will likely be just as bad.
Let's be clear...
1) Urgent medical care is already provided to all citizens (no-waiting lists).
2) Non-urgent medical care is a mix of public (waiting list) and private (jump the waiting list and get your choice of doctor).
Labor's policy (in a nutshell):
1) Extend non-urgent medical care to all seniors over 75 (They already get urgent care provided so it's only the non-urgent that is relevant).
2) Seniors can get the doctor of their choice (it's in their policy documents).
Labor is getting the government to effectively pay for Private Health insurance for all over 75's. For critical and non-critical medical care. Seniors will no longer need private health insurance.
One reasonable arguement is that this will reduce the cost of private health insurance to younger Australians. Yes, this is true. It will also reduce the cost of the 30% rebate to the government. Unfortunately it also means that an optimiser (like myself) no longer needs to take out private health insurance as the most likely scenario is that the bulk of your health care costs are when you are over 75.
The part that is not considered is that what will seniors do now that elective hospital procedures are free with no waiting list?
Answer: Increase their demand.
Who pays? Won't be the baby boomers. They will be retiring in the near future. Yes it's the small shrinking workforce we keep hearing about.
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