Medicare Safety Net for the Rich

Figures released by Health Minister, Tony Abbott shows it is the wealthy electorates not the poorer ones that are benefiting from the Federal Government's new Medicare safety net

Wentworth in the eastern suburbs has claims of $822,000, North Sydney has $711,000 and Warringah - based around Manly - $634,000. Western suburbs seats Lindsay claims of only $179,000 and Werriwa $123,000.

The number of individuals in wealthy areas who have qualified for the safety net is also higher than those for lower income areas.

Bradfield, 11,080, Wentworth 7739 however only 2817 qualified in Throsby and Werriwa 2119.

Of the seats receiving more than $500,000 in Medicare safety net only one is held by Labor and that is the affluent Melbourne seat of Melbourne Ports which includes the well off and leafy suburbs of Albert Park and Middle Park.

Seat            Party   Margin   Claims


Berowra         NSW     LP        2%>   $573,051


Bradfield       NSW     LP        2%>   $911,828


Goldstein       VIC     LP        2%>   $529,939


McKellar        NSW     LP        2%>   $583,847


Melbourne Ports Vic     ALP       2%>   $612,389


Warringah       NSW     LP        2%>   $634,791


Wentworth       NSW     LP        2%>   $822,545

This is despite the fact that higher income individuals and families have to obtain $700 in out of pocket medical bills before they qualify for the safety net's 80% discount, compared with the $300 threshold for pensioners and low to average income families with children.

These figures show that higher income earners are more likely to access expensive out of hospital medical treatment such as diagnostic scans, and consult specialist whose gap charges can run into hundreds of dollars - 80% of safety net costs are generated by specialists.

Labor has pledged to abolish the safety net.

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© 2003 Health Services Union (HSU)
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Last Modified: Wednesday, 16-Nov-2005 17:19:27 EST