Don't we already pay, either through taxation or when Dr doesn't bulk bill? What sense does a extra payment make?
www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-02/lnp-griffith-contender-bill-glasson-backs-246-gp-fee/5182324
Plenty of people already have to pay to see a GP. Many doctors , especially in regional and rural areas charge their patients a fee not covered by Medicare. It was a novelty moving to a city and finding the GPs all bulk billing.
Bulk billing has been a success for many doctors and super clinics, where there are no appointments just take a seat.
But we can really save a bit by cutting back on 'seeing the doctor for a friendly visit because Their bored' plus how many test do you go for?
Gee look at hospitals for fast and friendly service that just make you want to come back 'NOT', well there is reason behind that!
Well I think Doctors have the toughest jobs in society and I admirer them for what they have to do, but iv never met one who is worth six dollars.
No problem here , never had to pay , not even 6 dollars
, and all the family have been over the last 3 yrs
People seem happy to spend money on a car service or a lawn mower man but somehow expect to not fork out a cent when they go and see a doctor.
Does my head in. $10 bucks for a pint of bear or a pack of **** but hey, expect Medicare to cover everything.
They want to claw back any money they can.
The people that want a friendly chat can pay for their first 6 visits and then come back every week if they want, so it wont deter them.
How about a system where you get charged $6 after the first 6 visits instead? It wont claw back the money but it will reduce the chance of over-servicing.
With private health insurance going up, welcome to a US style system if we don't keep our eyes open.
i think its a good thing.
the system is getting smashed by an ageing population, the health care is getting hammered, and as soon as theres a mention of a tax increase all hell breaks loose as most people cry poor despite pissing half their $$ up the wall.
How come it costs me $30 or so every time I see the dr? I usually pay when I leave and after they swipe my Medicare card the cost left to me is around thirty bucks I think.
I pay top cover on health insurance, so I for one am getting F....g P.....d off with any add on cost. 
Either you have health insurance or you bloody well dont
Imagine insuring you car for top of the range full comprhensive insurance premium, then when making a claim its reduced because X-Y.Z
If I elect to and can pay top of range, I dont want, or expect any more "add on cost"
Feel for those who struggle week to week who cant afford private health cover. It must be near on unbearable. 
Oh, and I pay out of my kick for disadvantaged aged parents, both sides of family, who cant afford the bloody stinking add on cost
come see me
flat fee 4 bucks (female prostate examinations free)
but you definitely may have to get your kit off
and you may definitely will be videoed for internet research purposes
Select to expand quoteMackerel said..
Spot on mineral1 - do you pay nothing when you see the dr?
No, the stinking mongrel system stings for that as it is, even on top cover now I presume there is an add on proposed by that shonky slimy half baked excuse for a treasure Hocky, and his flap eared mate, the Mad Monk. No wonder people pull out of health insurance
The move is designed to stop the low lifes from wasting the Doctor's time and the tax payer's money by going to a Doctor when all they have is an itchy toe or they are just bored.
If it means I can get a 10 minute appointment instead of a 5 minute one, I am all for it.
I'm going to say it, red thumb away... looking at some of the oxygen thieves that turn up to a emergency department seeking treatment after hours because they are too lazy to go to a GP or chemist to get some cough mixture or a bandaid, the sooner they bring in a nominal fee for medical treatment the better. Many of the people choking up doctors rooms and emergency departments are more than capable or sorting out their own issues but are too lazy, too dumb or too tight to do so. A measly five buck fee will actually deter some of these people and I think that's a good thing.
The hard part is not slugging those with a genuine hardship.
Select to expand quotecisco said..
The move is designed to stop the low lifes from wasting the Doctor's time and the tax payer's money by going to a Doctor when all they have is an itchy toe or they are just bored.
If it means I can get a 10 minute appointment instead of a 5 minute one, I am all for it.
Surely its up to a Doctor to decide what constitutes and ailment? An itchy toe might be some type of fungal infestation and boredom could be a sign of depression ? Anyway, what constitutes a 'low life' ?
Select to expand quoteAdos said..cisco said..
The move is designed to stop the low lifes from wasting the Doctor's time and the tax payer's money by going to a Doctor when all they have is an itchy toe or they are just bored.
If it means I can get a 10 minute appointment instead of a 5 minute one, I am all for it.
Surely its up to a Doctor to decide what constitutes and ailment? An itchy toe might be some type of fungal infestation and boredom could be a sign of depression ? Anyway, what constitutes a 'low life' ?
Good point Ados.
Iv only had little satisfaction with doctors and think if we really had to hand over $50 for their advice then we would consider if they are worth it! Plus imagine how many would go out of business if you could just go to a chemist for a script?
The system needs supporting with checks and balances, and like most areas will need Constant upgrades to improve service and costs.
I'm proud that everyone is entitled to health care here in Australia and my monthly donation to 'Doctors aboard' brings me peace of mind too.
Select to expand quoteAdos said..cisco said..
The move is designed to stop the low lifes from wasting the Doctor's time and the tax payer's money by going to a Doctor when all they have is an itchy toe or they are just bored.
If it means I can get a 10 minute appointment instead of a 5 minute one, I am all for it.
? An itchy toe might be some type of fungal infestation and boredom could be a sign of depression ?
I have itchy toes and i am bored.
May as well do myself in now.
Anyway, agree with Chris. Too many time wasting people clogging up doc's with a mild cold just so they can get out of work / school etc.
I like to go to the doctor. He is gentle and considerate, but the videotaping is a bit out there...
Yeh agree with you Mineral. Private cost me a fortune and I still have to pay the medicare levi.
We spend $6 on a burger or a beer and don't bat an eyelid, but that's not a free service.
So I guess we will get used to it. I have never been to a doctor here that bulk bills. Don't know if there is one in town.
There is a 4 week wait for an appointment, so maybe this will help speed things up.
But $6 isn't the end of it, as it will be a $6 flag fall on a script as well, if I understand it correctly.
Anything free always gets abused. Nothing is actually free, and you (or someone else, probably me) ends up paying for it. Why do you think the medicare levy keeps going up?
I have to book two weeks ahead to get into my local GP because all the old people book into the doctor for their weekly 'chat', and I'm the one paying for it. Whether it's $2, or $6, a nominal fee is a whole lot better than the $70 - $100 you'd be paying without medicare, and will stop the system being abused so much. In fact, it will probably help stop the medicare levy needing to go up again, so the average tax payer would actually be better off.
Select to expand quoteAdos said...cisco said..
The move is designed to stop the low lifes from wasting the Doctor's time and the tax payer's money by going to a Doctor when all they have is an itchy toe or they are just bored.
If it means I can get a 10 minute appointment instead of a 5 minute one, I am all for it.
Surely its up to a Doctor to decide what constitutes and ailment? An itchy toe might be some type of fungal infestation and boredom could be a sign of depression ? Anyway, what constitutes a 'low life' ?
Fungal infection? You mean tinea? Go to the chemist for that and leave the appointment free for the dude with depression.
Select to expand quoteChris6791 said..Ados said...cisco said..
The move is designed to stop the low lifes from wasting the Doctor's time and the tax payer's money by going to a Doctor when all they have is an itchy toe or they are just bored.
If it means I can get a 10 minute appointment instead of a 5 minute one, I am all for it.
Surely its up to a Doctor to decide what constitutes and ailment? An itchy toe might be some type of fungal infestation and boredom could be a sign of depression ? Anyway, what constitutes a 'low life' ?
Fungal infection? You mean tinea? Go to the chemist for that and leave the appointment free for the dude with depression.
This is at the heart of the problem, there needs to be a level of service below a doctor that is easily accessible, most of my visits to the GP were for stuff that a RN could have done. The system needs an overhaul.
Select to expand quotemineral1 said..
I pay top cover on health insurance, so I for one am getting F....g P.....d off with any add on cost. Either you have health insurance or you bloody well dont
Imagine insuring you car for top of the range full comprhensive insurance premium, then when making a claim its reduced because X-Y.Z
If I elect to and can pay top of range, I dont want, or expect any more "add on cost"
Feel for those who struggle week to week who cant afford private health cover. It must be near on unbearable.
Oh, and I pay out of my kick for disadvantaged aged parents, both sides of family, who cant afford the bloody stinking add on cost
Since when has private top health cover had anything to do with seeing a GP ??
Private health insurance only covers hospital, dental and those other "medical type" visits.
Medicare - which the Libs seem keen to partly privatise - deals with GP visits and like a lot of Seabreezers, I imagine, I have to pay a top up on any GP visits because I choose to go to a doctors practice that isn't owned by some big medical corporation that employs doctors that can churn out a billable consultation every 6 or 7 minutes and therefore can bulk bill....
My choice and I'm happy enough to pay for that choice.
Select to expand quoteChris6791 said..Ados said...cisco said..
The move is designed to stop the low lifes from wasting the Doctor's time and the tax payer's money by going to a Doctor when all they have is an itchy toe or they are just bored.
If it means I can get a 10 minute appointment instead of a 5 minute one, I am all for it.
Surely its up to a Doctor to decide what constitutes and ailment? An itchy toe might be some type of fungal infestation and boredom could be a sign of depression ? Anyway, what constitutes a 'low life' ?
Fungal infection? You mean tinea? Go to the chemist for that and leave the appointment free for the dude with depression.
The point I was trying to make is that sometimes you have to get an appraisal for things that turn out not to be serious.
Its just the nature of health.
Select to expand quotecisco said..
If it means I can get a 10 minute appointment instead of a 5 minute one, I am all for it.
I'll be happy to just have my appointment run on time instead of waiting for up to an hour afterwards Select to expand quoteRex said..
This is at the heart of the problem, there needs to be a level of service below a doctor that is easily accessible, most of my visits to the GP were for stuff that a RN could have done. The system needs an overhaul.
If I have a head cold or sinus I cant go to work, but my employer wants me to get a medical cert. I believe chemists can issue them, but the two closest chemists to me wont, so it is off to the Doc for something that I plainly know what is wrong and what to take.
Another thing clogging the system is Google...
I never knew that in-grown toe nail was a symptom of lung cancer or heart disease with toooo many people self diagnosing.
After working out how much we spent on medical bills last year- trying to get me to pay any extra will be like getting blood out a stone.
My GP is pretty good- bulk bills most visits, but the bureaucracy is hard to get past,
Our son needed to get an ear syringed- it was done by the R.N. at our local surgery, but had to be ordered by the G.P. first, which meant a couple of days wait for an appointment that matched up vacant spaces with the G.P. and R.N.
It most likely could have been done immediately if we didnt need the G.P. rubber stamp.
So 17 year old son had to harden up and wait as I wasnt going to cart him to Joondalup emergency and waste a day due to him forgetting that everytime he gets water in his head he falls apart at the seams.
stephen
Select to expand quoteBento said..
People seem happy to spend money on a car service or a lawn mower man but somehow expect to not fork out a cent when they go and see a doctor.
Does my head in. $10 bucks for a pint of bear or a pack of **** but hey, expect Medicare to cover everything.
I don't want to see a Dr., I want to be able to buy medicines from a pharmacist... like I can in other countries.
$75 to see my Doctor, and he's no quack. Sometimes have to wait a while in the waiting room, as the man takes time with each patient and doesn't guess/diagnose you before your bum can touch the seat in the surgery. Usually spends at least 10-15 minutes with patients, in the past I've been in with him up to 45 minutes whilst he diagnoses and organizes specialists and/or tests. If unable to afford his rate he bulk bills, good guy.
Medicare rebate is $36 so actual cost to visit my doc is $39. Cost is irrelevant when you are ill or in pain, so if $5 is too much then you aint sick...
If people didn't each so much junk food then modern mediSIN wouldn't be making such a killing.
Select to expand quotepetermac33 said..
If people didn't each so much junk food then modern mediSIN wouldn't be making such a killing.
and if you put a small charge on each high fat, high sugar, low fibre, high packaging meal served by the big chains, I'll bet you would get more than $750M over 4 years. But that would affect jobs, jobs, jobs...both behind the counter and in the health repair industry
Read the book "What Would Keith Richards Do".
Strategies for dealing with most of life's problems are in there.
Another great read is "Sex and Thugs and Rock and Roll" by Billy Thorpe.
Select to expand quoteStubbies said..
$75 to see my Doctor, and he's no quack. Sometimes have to wait a while in the waiting room, as the man takes time with each patient and doesn't guess/diagnose you before your bum can touch the seat in the surgery. Usually spends at least 10-15 minutes with patients, in the past I've been in with him up to 45 minutes whilst he diagnoses and organizes specialists and/or tests. If unable to afford his rate he bulk bills, good guy.
Medicare rebate is $36 so actual cost to visit my doc is $39. Cost is irrelevant when you are ill or in pain, so if $5 is too much then you aint sick...
Gee it seems you guys over in the west are short on doctors with costs and waiting times! Or am I wrong in thinking that?
Here on the central coast it's a day or two for an appointment that's bulk billed, when I lived on the Gold Coast there was a shortage once and a super clinic with a lot of young smart doctors opened with no appointments but just take a seat. Well within a year the wait increased and my doctor is saying sorry for the wait, still bulk billed.
Funny the other clinics that had closed books or higher fees started bulk billing and begging for business.
When I was in tamworth the pharmacy said don't even try and see a doctor! There were rules stopping people changing doctors there, but there was some openings to new people to town but weeks of waiting!
There is a good reason I think that doctors are not paided to much or else they will retire early leaving gaps in the system.
I don't envy their job though! Imagine what they have to look at each day, no amount of money is worth it.
