medicareЁЯТОЁЯТО
How can the patient go about being reimbursed with the Medicare benefit?
The Medicare benefit can be reimbursed in a number of ways including going to the Medicare office, paid by post, a two-way or a transfer can be made by the doctors.
What is the Medicare levy?
The Medicare levy is a 1.5% tax placed on top of general taxes for eligible taxpayers (those who earn over $18,200).
What is the Medicare levy surcharge?
The Medicare levy surcharge is an additional tax placed on top of general taxes and the Medicare levy ranging from 1>1.5% depending on income for high income earners. It acts as an incentive to take out PHI.
What is the Medicare scheduled fee?
The Medicare scheduled fee is the payment made by the government through Medicare determined by a set list of "items". (e.g. $37.10 paid by Medicare for a doctor's consultation.)
What are the costs of Medicare?
The costs of Medicare include subsidising many medical services, technology and medicines.
What is the doctor's fee for a consultation?
The doctor's fee is a cost set by a patient's doctor for a consultation, which can either be the scheduled fee (bulk billing) or above (to cover other expenses).
Which level of government administers Medicare?
The level of government that administers Medicare is the federal government.
Outline the steps for a doctor's appointment.
The steps for a doctor's appointment are make an appointment (on the phone or in person), visit reception (state name, doctor, appointment time and hand over your Medicare card), see your GP (usually 10 minutes) and then return back to reception and pay for your visit (if not bulk billed).
What are three advantages of Medicare?
Three advantages of Medicare include all Australians have access to it, people pay the levy according to their income and it is a good, well-funded public health system.
What are three disadvantages of Medicare?
Three disadvantages of Medicare include long waiting lists for certain procedures, not all costs are covered and the system can be overused as it is readily available.
How old must a person be to obtain a Medicare card?
To obtain a Medicare card, a person must be over 15 years old.
What is triage?
Triage is the assessment and classification of a patient's symptoms on three levels as to the urgency of treatment in the emergency centre.
What are four responsibilities of youth when using the healthcare system?
Four responsibilities of youth include keeping appointment times, treating others with respect and dignity, not withholding any information and telling professionals if they do not plan to follow through with treatment.
What are four rights of youth when using the healthcare system?
Four rights of youth include privacy/confidentiality, consent to treatment (or to refuse to treatment), information and respect and dignity.
What constitutes health services?
Health services are constituted of medical services, modern technology and modern medicines.
What are some examples of health services?
Health services include pathology tests, X-Rays, screenings, clinical surgery and eye tests.
When was Medicare established?
Medicare was established in February 1984.
What is a co-payment?
A co-payment is the "out of pocket expense" that the patient pays in a shared payment.
What is a consultation?
A consultation is a meeting with a doctor or specialist to discuss diagnosis and treatment of a particular case. (Usually 10 minutes.)
What does a normal fee entail?
A normal fee can be paid either through a subsidised payment or be entirely self-funded.
What is a subsidy?
A subsidy is government funding as financial assistance to either a group or individual to reduce a cost in some way.
Why may a young person want their own Medicare card?
A young person may want their own Medicare card as this ensures privacy about seeing doctors independently from their parents.
What is concession?
Concession is someone on a low income.
Why are Medicare costs rising each year?
Medicare costs are constantly rising as the prices of modern medicines, treatments and technologies get more expensive, as people begin to misuse this low-cost healthcare and as we become an ageing population.
What is likely to be covered by Medicare?
Medicare covers public hospital treatment, pathology tests, X-Rays, eye tests (every two years) and most surgical procedures.
What is not likely to be covered by Medicare?
Medicare doesn't cover private hospital costs, dental services, cosmetic or clinically unnecessary surgery, physiotherapy, ambulance services, home nursing/treatment, glasses and contact lenses and prosthesis.
What is Medicare?
Medicare is a universal service designed to provide free or low-cost healthcare to all Australian citizens.
Who is Medicare funded by?
Medicare is funded by taxpayers.
What are three ways that Medicare is funded?
Medicare is funded through the Medicare levy, the Medicare levy surcharge and general taxes.
What is Medicare designed to ensure?
Medicare is in place to ensure all people in Australia have access to some forms of medical care.
What is an advantage and disadvantage of bulk billing?
An advantage of bulk billing is that low income earners can access health care and conditions do not become chronic and a disadvantage is that this can be misused because it is free.
What does bulk billing entail?
Bulk billing entails the doctor not charging over the scheduled fee for a consultation.
Who is covered by Medicare?
Everybody who is an eligible citizen of Australia or New Zealand, or a holder of a permanent visa, is covered by Medicare.
What are incentives?
Incentives are enticements or deterrents set up by PHI companies or the government to convince high income earners to take out PHI and ease the burden on the Medicare system. (e.g. the Medicare levy surcharge.)
What are two options the doctor has with charging/covering the cost of an appointment?
When covering the cost of an appointment, the doctor can either bulk bill you or charge the normal fee.
