Australia's Universal Healthcare System: A Case Study

The Australian health care system is not a very complicated one, it is solely based on two main sectors which are the ‘public’ and ‘private’. The public sector allows one to claim health care benefits and payments through the universal health coverage developed by the Australian government, called Medicare. Medicare is completely free and paid by the government through income tax received to help pay for medical, optical and hospital care (Humanservicesgovau, 2016). It also has a sub-division called the ‘Medicare safety net’ which is more so given to those on significantly low incomes to aid in financial distress. Similarly, the private sector is made up of different companies entitling different benefits, usually consisting of two plans, ‘hospital’ and ‘generic’ (Privatehealthgovau, 2016). The private health care system is more so for people who need immediate attention as the public health system has a waiting list for many different types of operations. Private health system is also customisable in circumstances such as

The Australian healthcare system has been evolving since the beginning of the colonisation of Australia. Today, Australia has an extremely efficient healthcare system although it still has several issues. The influencing factors, structure, and current issues of the Australian healthcare system will be throughly discussed and explained in this essay.

This service now provides the public, access to see health care professionals for free or for subsidised treatments. The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) lists all the services that are included for people to access, the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS) subsidises essential and necessary medications that patients require, any pharmaceuticals that are not covered will be at cost to the patient or through private health insurance. The Federal Government and State governments fund health promotion and disease prevention services throughout Australia.

The healthcare system in Australia is complex involving many funders and healthcare providers. In 2011 to 2012 the health expenditure in Australia was estimated to have been $140.2 billion, which made up 9.5 percent of gross domestic product in that year (AIHW, 2013). Responsibilities are split between different levels of government, and between the government and non-government sectors. With non-government sources funding for about 30 percent of the total health expenditure each year (AIHW, 2013). Australians make their contribution to their healthcare system through taxes, including the Medicare levy, and through private financing such as private health insurance. Private health insurance in Australia is a voluntary facility for private funding of hospital care and ancillaries. Insurance funds may cover the costs of treatment for private patients in private or public hospitals and can include some services that Medicare does not cover. The Australian governments fund for almost 70 percent of the health expenditure each year (AIHW, 2013). The federal government contributes to approximately two-thirds, while State, Territory and local governments together contribute for the other one-third (AIWH, 2013). As a generalization the Australian government is primarily responsible for the funding of healthcare, through health insurance arrangements and direct payments to the state and territories, while state and territories are primarily responsible

A national health care system in the United States has been a contentious topic of debate for over a century. Social reformists have been fighting for universal health care for all Americans, while the opposition claims that a “social” heath care system has no place in the ‘Land of the Free’.

The Australian Medicare system is essentially based around private practice and fee-for-service. In England, they have the National Health Service, which is a publicly funded healthcare system, this is the oldest and biggest

The Australian health care system is a highly functioning and accessible system based on universal principles of access and equity. In this essay I will discuss the historical evolution and current structure of our health system, identifying current health service models of delivery and look at its strengths, weaknesses, policies and health priorities currently in Australia. I will discuss the roles of government and non-government health services in service provision and funding sources of Australian health. We will get a better insight of the role of standards for residential aged care and look into a broad range of professions that consumers may engage with in health service delivery, their roles and functions of each profession.

This essay will discuss the structure of Australia’s healthcare system, known as Medicare. It will also discuss the role of the Government and Non-Government agencies, and Medicare’s strengths and weaknesses. It will also address the health and illness issues that aboriginal and people from overseas face, and also the significance of implementing best practice and quality management

“The Australian health care system is a highly functioning and accessible system based on universal principles of access and equity”.

An American Healthcare Crisis Debate: Comparing Universal Healthcare System (a Canadian System) with the United States’ HMO (with emphasis on cost.)

As financial manager, my role is a complex one covering many different areas of my clients finances. My role requires me to have a full understanding of the finances and how my company is ran. I am responsible for managing the budget and allocating funds amongst the different departments in relevance to importance, in order to keep the company running successfully. Choosing to invest in a company is a huge decision , requiring a rigorous amount of research. This research is done in order to determine whether the companies are a good fit for each other. The amount of research conducted can make the difference between my investor increasing their profit and losing money.

The health care system in the United States is one of the greatest concerns facing Americans today and is an issue both moral and economic in nature. Some think the system should stay, for all intents and purposes, the same. They believe that the right to healthcare is a stepping stone toward socialism, and that it is the responsibility of the individual to obtain health care. These are usually the more ideologically conservative citizens and politicians who believe that medicine should remain a free enterprise, not to be constrained by government interference. Then there are those who believe that healthcare is a right, and the federal government has a responsibility to make sure it is available to all citizens, not just those who can afford

World Health Organization (WHO) defines a universal health coverage, as a system where all citizens of a country have access to health services without incurring financial hardship. According to WHO, the systems needs to be efficient, has to provide vital medicine as well as technology and medical professionals. The system has to at least meet the basic health needs, including: HIV, TB, maternal and baby/child health as well as various non-communicable diseases. The care under the universal coverage is to be integrated and include preventive medicine, treatment of diseases and further rehabilitation. The universal coverage has a great impact on the entire population by improving population’s health, assuring access to health care,

My name is vipanpreet kaur and I am from India. I did bachelors of science in nursing in India. Now I started my course in masters of public health in Australia. I learned various things about Australia in terms of weather, transportation system and Australian health care system, how it works and about their health services. I experienced that the health care system in Australia is complex, including funding and healthcare providers that are totally different from my own country. Responsibilities are divide between different levels of government and non-government sectors. The Australian government is responsible for the funding of healthcare through health insurance and direct payments to the states and territories. To begin with, the history of public health provides a viewpoint to develop knowledge and an understanding of health problems of communities and how to cope with them (history of public health, p.1). This

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is an extension of Medicare and allows prescription medications to be purchased by Australians at differing rates, depending on their income.