Health costs uncovered
Report reveals half of Geelong patients paying out-of-pocket fees
MORE than half of all Geelong patients are paying out-of-pocket costs toward non-hospital Medicare services.
A new report shows these high costs are leading people to delay or not seek medical treatment.
New data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows 57.4 per cent of Geelong residents forked out an average of $132 a year in out-of-pocket non-medical costs, with some patients spending up to $502 a year. Across the Western Victoria Primary Health Network the average cost was lower — with patients spending $122.
Australia-wide, half of all patients — 10.9. million people — incurred out-of-pocket costs for non-hospital Medicare services. But the report reveals out-of-pocket costs faced by patients vary significantly by region.
While the average median spend was $142 per patient, those in Western Queensland spent an average $104 per year THE former Geelong airport hangar is being offered free of charge to community groups seeking a pop-up venue for their events and operations.
The brightly coloured building at Armstrong Mount Duneed was converted by owner Villawood Properties to a land sales office in recent years, but has been vacated by the creation of an adjoining sales centre.
Villawood executive director Rory Costelloe said while those in Western Sydney paid an average of $206.
In just one year Australians spent a staggering $3 billion in medical gap fees not covered by Medicare or health funds. Services paid for completely by the patient or subsidised by private health insurance were not included in the report.
The report found 1.3 million people delayed or did not seek specialist, GP, imaging or pathology services when they needed them because of service costs.
While Geelong’s average bulk billing spend was lower the 25m x 12m hangar — at the corner of the Surf Coast Highway and Unity Drive — could serve as a valuable centre for community groups needing an occasional venue.
It also features three offices, a kitchen, highpitched roof, windows, security, lighting, power and wood-heater as well as an actual light aeroplane installation.
“It could work as a popup venue for meetings, exhibitions, installations — all sorts of things,” Mr Costelloe said.
“Villawood is always conscious of community groups and their needs, especially fledgling groups in new areas like Armstrong.
“We’re not using the hangar at the moment and we think it could be a good fit for many different people.”
Interested parties should email armstrong@villawood properties.com than the state median, residents spent a higher amount on medical imaging costs.
Thirty-eight per cent of patients paid an average $70 for each diagnostic imaging visit, compared with an average of just 23.5 per cent of patients spending $60.
AIHW’s Michael Frost said across the board patients living in metropolitan Primary Health Network areas were less likely to have out-of-pocket costs than patients in regional PHN areas.
“For patients who incurred out-of- pocket costs, the median amount each patient spent in the year was $142 — but patients living in some PHN areas paid almost double that,” Mr Frost said.
“A range of factors can influence out-of-pocket costs. These can include the types of services the patient requires, the availability of bulk billing and the cost of services in their area.”
The findings will help inform policymakers and health service providers to better understand the needs of local areas.