The disturbing change that’s happened to Medicare – and it’s impacting millions of Aussies who want to see a GP

Australians are paying more to see a doctor than they were a year ago as Anthony Albanese plans to tempt voters with a Medicare overhaul ahead of the election.

Despite the Labor government investing $3.5 billion to increase bulk billing rates, Australians aged 16 to 64 are paying more to see their GP since Labor came to power in 2022.

In that age group, bulk billing rates – when patients have appointments fully covered by Medicare – fell from 82 percent in the year to October 2022 to 69 percent in the year to October 2024. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data showed.

Labour’s main 2023 budget policy targeted younger Aussies and the elderly, tripling the bonus paid to doctors if they bulk billed these age groups.

The policy has led to a modest postponement for these target groups.

Bulk billing rates for Australians under 15 and over 65 have both increased by two percent and one percent respectively between 2023 and 2024.

But the trend among working Aussies continues downward, with a two percent decline between 2023 and 2024.

And even rates for young Australians and older people were lower in October 2024 than they were two years earlier, with rates falling across the board since 2022.

Despite the Labor government investing $3.5 billion to increase bulk billing rates, Aussies aged 16 to 64 are paying more to see their GP since Labor came to power in 2022.

With doctors’ fees rising every year, this means Aussies across all age groups are running out of money.

Health Minister Mark Butler said on Thursday the government’s investment had already made a “meaningful difference”.

‘[But] there are cohorts who are still having a very hard time. We know there is more to be done in bulk billing, and we are committed to doing more,” said Butler The era.

‘We are closely monitoring what happens to patients who are not covered by the bulk billing incentive scheme, what happens in GP practices where the incentive is not being taken advantage of.

‘Although there has been a very marginal decline in bulk invoicing [for adults] according to last year’s AIHW data, those rates were frankly in freefall before we tripled the bulk billing incentive.”

Coalition health spokeswoman Anne Ruston said Medicare has become weaker than it was in 2022 despite Labour’s investments.

“Australians can feel the truth of Labor’s Medicare record every time they go to pay the bill at their GP’s reception,” she said.

Labor is now signaling even greater investment in bulk billing as it puts Medicare at the center of its election campaign. Albanese is expected to unveil Labor’s new health promises on bulk billing, GP staffing and urgent care clinics before the federal election, which could take place as early as March.