Capping Medicare Saftey Net for IVF/ART

[buliej]

I just received an email from ACCESS (it's an infertility information org) that the government is considering making the safety net means tested. If true, this will obviously impact the costs of IVF. IVF is so expensive, and even those who may be pushed out of the safety net because of income still won't have sufficient income to pay 100% for the costly IVF procedures. Has anyone else heard of this?

ACCESS suggests sending a letter to your member of parliament (see form letter here: http://www.access.org.au/__data/page/947/letter.pdf)

[dusty]

That is full on! I haven't heard anything. Anyone else heard anything?

[briggsy's girl]

That is full on! I haven't heard anything. Anyone else heard anything?

i googled to try to find info (figured it would be on a press release or something) - the last time it was mentioned in Au was back in 2005...

the safety net is already means tested to a degree - if you qualify for FTBA as a family, you get your safety net at half as much (so for us, it might be 1100 for ftba family 550) - i can't see anyone going so far as to try fully means testing it at all - the logistics would be impossible! can you imagine people who AREN'T qualifying for ftba having to estimate income - pensioners etc?? i doubt it!

[buliej]

I'd be so happy to be wrong. I wonder why ACCESS sent that email?

[dusty]

I hope you are right BG and it sure would have huge impacts on more than just IVF patients!

I wonder whether in this current economic climate if ACCESS are doing some preventative lobbying, which is always a good way to send a message to the Government that this assistance is greatly needed, appreciated and wanted. Probably worth taking the 10 minutes needed to send a message as suggested by ACCESS to the polies to back up a system that we all rely a lot on.

[MummyNaomi]

Guys - its true, more info can be found on the repromed site (Adelaide's leading IVF clinic)

Bombard your member of parliment NOW. The government have a sitting of parliment next week with regard to the budget and in scope is to wind back Medicare and Medicare Safety Net support for IVF services - this means a single IVF cycle would cost $8000 with no medicare support

More info Fertility Specialists, Adelaide South Australia - Repromed

I have emailed friends, politicians, Media etc to campaign against this change

Naomi

[nic]

I remember reading something last week saying something about the government putting forward the idea of means testing the safety net, and it would affect the high income earners? I remember reading and wondering who they classed as high income? Would they class $150k as high income (like with the baby bonus?) or would it be less?
I'll have to see if I can find where I read it..

Nic

ok, here is the article i read,

THE rich are facing higher medical costs and the loss of lucrative superannuation tax breaks to help fund a $30-a-week pension boost.

The Rudd Government is also considering an increase in nursing home fees - but only for wealthier couples - as part of a Robin Hood Budget.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is under huge pressure to take the axe to middle-class welfare to help revive a Budget savaged by the downturn.

Among a raft of schemes being targeted is the Medicare safety net, introduced by John Howard to take the pressure off family medical expenses. It costs $300 million a year and the Government is looking to reduce that.

This is likely to see the scheme made off-limits to high earners, while the range of eligible medical procedures could also be wound back.

The powerful Finance Department is also pushing for an increase in nursing home fees, although pensioners would be exempted.

"Everything is on the table. Finance wants to see big savings out of health," one source told the Herald Sun.

Senior government figures admit that any rise in nursing home fees would be sensitive with voters. But they believe fee rises can be limited to the wealthy who have built up hefty property portfolios or who receive private income.

A $30-a-week pension top-up is almost certain to be announced in the May Budget by Treasurer Wayne Swan.

This is forecast to cost around $5 billion a year, forcing the Government to hunt even harder for savings.

The Government's review of taxation, chaired by Treasury head Ken Henry, is finalising a key report outlining a raft of savings options.

At risk is the $1 billion-plus Superannuation Co-contribution scheme, introduced by the Coalition in 2003 as a means of encouraging private savings.

However, the scheme has been criticised for allowing wealthy families to income-split and still receive generous government handouts - $1.50 for every $1 saved.

Senior ministers are also expected to target other superannuation measures, although the Government is likely to be attacked for undermining savings efforts.

Lucrative tax breaks for high-earners who pour up to $50,000 of their income into super through generous salary-sacrifice rules are also under review.

[Alison1973]

Hi BulieJ - thanks for this, I'll be sending one to my local Parliament for sure! Disgusting they're even considering it!

[dusty]

I've been reminded that the previous Gov't wanted to limit the number of cycles a woman could undertake each year (pre budget 2004?) under Medicare and the overwhelming public outcry caused them to drop that one. The two scenarios you have outlined are worse than this was IMO.

[bella55]

I can't believe it.... I like many of us usually leave the writing and campaining up to others but i to have written a letter to all the pm's..I can't work out how to paste it on here but i basically outlined our experiences and then wrote similar to all of you.

Thanks for bringing this to out attention...We definately wouldn't afford it if the safety net was abolished completly in regard to IVF...

Have forwarded some emails to friends and family so hopefully they to will join in our fight!

xxBella

[buliej]

Sydney IVF also has something about this on their site: Sydney IVF | Stop IVF Funding Cuts | Protect your Medicare Safety Net rights

[Nicole S]

What a joke Will arrange to send an e-mail.
I also chcked my e-mails today and got an e-mail from info@ivf.com.au??
Did anyone else get this?

[Loula]

Just sent all my letters by email

[Possums]

have sent my letter...and am also doing a story on this

[buliej]

Possums - keep us posted - let us know if we can watch the story online (or on tv) or read something.

I watched the late news last night - all I saw was coverage re: the alci-pops or whatever those drinks are called - think about how many ivf treatments that money could cover and now it has to be given back - what a joke (I know it would never be used for such, but I can't help thinking about it).

[redlady]

I work in the health field. And Im digusted in the govt even contemplating this.

How about scrapping the baby bonus first.

How about scrapping free needles for heroin uses which may I remind people is ILLEGAL.

How about scrapping methadone.

sincerely
redlady

[anney]

Taking IVF out of the medicare safety net has been put put forward by the pollies previously and people power has ensured it did not get up so keep those letters rolling in girls.
The annoying thing about it, is as the article quoted says

But figures show more than half the money handed out goes straight to obstetricians and gynaecologists, with the scheme growing seven times faster than the inflation rate in 2007.

This rise is because obsetricians have put their fees up, way above inflation over the last 3 years in particular and IVF fees have also got ridiculously high. In my opinion, the government should be looking at whether there is justification for these fee rises. After all, us IVFers are not putting the money in OUR pockets, it is the medicos that pocket the money. OK, IVF is being used more but fees have gone up waaay too much.

[buliej]

The letters are being read! I received the below reply this morning. Keep the letter writing up!

_________
Dear Julie



Thank you for writing to me about plans that Mr Rudd has to restrict access to the Medicare Safety Net in the upcoming Federal Budget.



Prior to the 2007 Federal Election, Labor gave an unambiguous commitment that it would not change the Medicare Safety Net.



My colleague the Hon Peter Dutton MP, Shadow Minister for Health, is handling the matter on behalf of the Coalition. He has my full support to make sure the Labor Government does not break its promise on this issue.



Yours sincerely



Peter Costello