Federal Budget tonight....

[AnyDream]

I'm fully in the burbs, have *never* been routinely bulk billed. Ever. And we have lived in 5 different states. So I'm astounded to hear that it's even possible to pay nothing ever.

[Lenny]

I'm fully in the burbs, have *never* been routinely bulk billed. Ever. And we have lived in 5 different states. So I'm astounded to hear that it's even possible to pay nothing ever.

I'm fully in the burbs too, and there is no clinic around here that bulk bills. I would have to drive a long way and even then, they only bulk bill children.

[Olive]

We have lots around my area, they're always hard to get into.
I don't use them often as my normal GP most times bulk bills the kids and quiet often DH and I as well, they choose who they bulk bill.

With FTB do they automatically both cut off once youngest is 6???

[briggsy's girl]

With FTB do they automatically both cut off once youngest is 6???

Fom what I've read, just part b

[~clover~]

I used to live on the Mid North Coast of NSW. They now have a few specific bulk billing doctors, opened in recent years, but before that You had to ask if the doctor would bulk bill you during the consultation. They could say yes or no. I had no happen a few times :/

Since moving back to more country area's though, as long as I have my pension card I've not ever been asked to pay.



RE the budget. I'd best find a place to pitch my tent before DD3 turns 6. Losing around $150 in FTB when she's 6. Loosing my carers to get a full time job, so around $100 down again. Then cut back to newstart when she's 8. Another approx. $250. I live in government housing & even if I manage to get a full time job in that time, I'll still be looking at tent city :/

[Khaleesi]

I saw somewhere people who pay to see a GP already will be charged an extra $5 on top of their normal fees.
So $75 instead of $70.....

I've never had to pay to see a Dr either..

[Amaunet]

I read somewhere (SMH?) that people who go to emergency when they are sick and could/should have gone to a GP (ie not an emergency) will be billed the $7 as well.

[wysiwyg]

I have always paid since arriving in Australia - is about $35 out of pocket for normal hours appointments more like $55 for out of hours. In England was free, but could wait ages to get an appointment, so I just thought it was ok seeing as here I could pay but get to see a doctor when I needed one (My budgeting software tells me that the past year that equates to $375 on GP visits for the family - so just over a dollar a day). I would rather pay like this when I can afford it knowing that it would be free if I couldn't.

This is why have thought that some of the initiatives to reduce doctors visits are a good idea compared to paying - e.g. I can get a referral for my endocrinologist for $20 - instead of having to waste mine and GP appointment just to get the note - I can do it online for $20 which saves me $15 and medicare $35. Getting a doctors note from a pharmacist for $20 is also a good idea in my book (only having to have two days off work to require a sick note is ridiculous in my opinion - is a waste of time and money - it should be a 5 working days - 2 days encourages people to go to the doctors when a doctor is not required). If you miss a swimming lesson where DD goes, you need to get a doctors note to get a replacement class, I always thought that was ridiculous, paying $35 to get a note for a replacement class worth $14, now I understand that people can go bulk bill - it makes more sense (although I think is a silly system - encouraging people to waste doctors time to get a note saying yes the child has a cold etc so can miss swimming class).

[briggsy's girl]

My employer allows us five days of "undocumented" personal or carers leave all year. After that it is deemed unauthorised leave and becomes leave without pay. And can impact job security. I have no choice but to go to the doctor if myself or dd are sick as I need medical/carers certificates. I hate wasting everyone's time when I have flu or gastro, for which I know there is no treatment but rest and fluids (not to mention the risk of infecting others!) but I have no choice! It's not a case of two or more consecutive days require certificates. It's pretty much every absence. Five absences without evidence sounds like a bit of leeway, but when i have a small child and they are ill with gastro, and i KNOW I sit very near someone who is quite immunocompromised, I adhere to doctors quarantine suggestions, so it takes very little for is to have a need to see a doctor for a certificate.

I am reluctant to believe that pharmacists issuing evidence certificates won't be abided. I know doctors certificates are already abused, but I think pharmacists will be further abused....

No comment on the rest of the budget stuff given I have a migraine and haven't read. Just wanted to comments in the certificate situation

[wysiwyg]

My employer allows us five days of "undocumented" personal or carers leave all year. After that it is deemed unauthorised leave and becomes leave without pay. And can impact job security. I have no choice but to go to the doctor if myself or dd are sick as I need medical/carers certificates. I hate wasting everyone's time when I have flu or gastro, for which I know there is no treatment but rest and fluids (not to mention the risk of infecting others!) but I have no choice! It's not a case of two or more consecutive days require certificates. It's pretty much every absence. Five absences without evidence sounds like a bit of leeway, but when i have a small child and they are ill with gastro, and i KNOW I sit very near someone who is quite immunocompromised, I adhere to doctors quarantine suggestions, so it takes very little for is to have a need to see a doctor for a certificate.

I am reluctant to believe that pharmacists issuing evidence certificates won't be abided. I know doctors certificates are already abused, but I think pharmacists will be further abused....

No comment on the rest of the budget stuff given I have a migraine and haven't read. Just wanted to comments in the certificate situation

There will be people who abuse certificates, but I think the percentage is quite small and you have to wonder, whether the costs involved in making people visit the doctors are worth it just to stop the small number of people who may abuse certificates.

In UK only required a certificate for more than 5 days consecutive absence. I always thought it worked quite well. People did give them for less but only if were visiting the doctor anyway.

[briggsy's girl]

There will be people who abuse certificates, but I think the percentage is quite small and you have to wonder, whether the costs involved in making people visit the doctors are worth it just to stop the small number of people who may abuse certificates.

In UK only required a certificate for more than 5 days consecutive absence. I always thought it worked quite well. People did give them for less but only if were visiting the doctor anyway.

I think your perception will be colored by where you live and what you've been exposed to. I have lived in an area of high unemployment, high welfare dependence and high alcohol and drug use, and have had conversations with more than one gp about the large number of people refused medical certificates because they turn up asking because they are hung over etc. I wonder how the pharmacists are going to weed out the truth from the abusers? I know I the local chemist warehouse offer the service already. No idea how it works though

I went to medico for treatment today, and was told med certificates are slated to change soon anyway. None will be offered unless you have been sick a week - and then you will likely need two visits - one when first ill, one after a week to prove you are still ill. Any other illness, even if you attend the doctor, won't receive a certificate. You'll have to self declare or something. Will be interesting to see how that is accepted by employers!

[megs]

I live in Country Victoria and have always paid for drs. The hospital is also private so if you attend emergency you will get billed also (except if you are admitted to hospital) 2 years ago the clinic finally started bulk billing children under 16.

My other concern with the budget is the requirements placed on the youth to be in study if they don't have a job, whilst imthinkmitnis has merit for the learning country kids will struggle, already many Tafes have been closed, so where are they to do this said courses. They won't be able to afford to move as they won't have any money. One thing to say they have to study, another is to make sure study is available

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

Around here (SOTR Perth) the only clinics that bulk bill everyone are new clinics - they do it for 2-3 years to build up a patient base and then switch over to full payments. Concession and kids are always bulk billed. And they've tightened right up on appointment use - if you have more than one problem, you need to book and pay for a double appointment, even if they're two small problems. Having to pay $70 has definitely stopped me from going to the doctor on a number of occasions. I don't go to the ER instead, but generally the times I go to the ER, it could've been fixed a week ago by a visit to the GP that I couldn't afford.

The budget's not really going to affect Professor and I, not past the general changes. Although I don't understand the medication cost change, I already pay $60 a month for my meds, I'm hoping it's not going up but it probably is. That doesn't worry the government though, because I'm not eligible for any kind of welfare anyway if I'm not working, so they don't care if I live in the corner of my bedroom like a mushroom

[luna moth]

Interesting to note that a few vocal liberal-supporting contributors to past electoral threads are very quiet?

The $7 won't just be $7. Many clinics, if they have to handle money anyway, will just flick to fee paying.

Dropping Newstart for under30s is just stupid. I envisage crime rates rising, especially where I live, where youth and drug/alcohol services have been slashed by the states.

I'm okay with the fuel excise, but I'm not sure why it is different/better than a carbon tax? And of course I'm angry that mining is exempt.

[Miss.September]

Interesting to note that a few vocal liberal-supporting contributors to past electoral threads are very quiet .

I've voted differently over the past two elections. Voted for both labour and liberal. I've felt attacked both ways. I know that's my issue but when I voted labour, I felt screwed and when I voted liberal, I felt the same. Quite frankly, they all suck. I'm yet to find anything about this government that I'm comfortable with and there was nothing about the predecessor that made me feel like they were in control. A bit damned if you do, damned if you don't. I mostly just shut up about it all now because I feel that there is pretty much squat either party can do to help this country, they are both determined to stuff us one way or another. I don 't want to vote at all because if I vote for a smaller party, they decide who to give my preference to and the big parties are full of fools.

I hate that this budget is so rough on so many people for the purpose of giving Australia a savings account. They are taking away the opportunity from many families to save by making things harder, and then slapping them further down the track by saying that there is no help along the line. What's the point of additional funding for paid parental leave when jobs are being cut all over the place? People won't be paid for the leave because they won't have a job! How are people supposed to work until 70 when jobs are minimal? Employers are financially encouraged to employ over 50's but how can you when the work isn't there because the population has to tighten their belt buckles and can't afford to hit the shops, hire a trade or invest. So how do jobs get created for these people, and for that matter, anyone else? I don't understand the priorities.

[Trillian]

I've voted differently over the past two elections. Voted for both labour and liberal. I've felt attacked both ways. I know that my issue but when I voted labour, I felt screwed and when I voted liberal, I felt the same. Quite frankly, they all suck. I'm yet to find anything about this government that I'm comfortable with and there was nothing about the predecessor that made me feel like they were in control. A bit damned if you do, damned if you don't. I mostly just shut up about it all now because I feel that there is pretty much squat either party can do to help this country, they are both determined to stuff us one way or another. I don 't want to vote at all because if I vote for a smaller party, they decide who to give my preference to and the big parties are full of fools.

This. What's being a Lib or Labor voter got to do with anything Luna Moth? Do you think that a Labor Govt would have given us a better budget? Or just one with more 'free money'? Seems everyone's happy if we get some money but as soon as we don't we cry foul. Either way this country is ****ed and going to hell in a handbasket quicker than you can say 'slashing welfare'. This is the 'chickens are coming home to roost' budget and we're having to pay for the indulgences of a previous Govt. It wouldn't matter a fat rat's arse who was in Govt, at some point we were going to have a budget that came down hard on middle class welfare and all the other areas they can cut spending because at some point our country's debt does have to be repaid. We can't keep trotting out the 'but we're in a better position than all the other countries' because it's still debt and debt has to be paid and one day that debt could come back to bite us on the arse. I don't agree with many of the changes at all and I cannot possibly see what good can come of it except making it even harder for those who are already struggling. I think anyone who voted for the Liberal party at the last election did so in good faith, just like ALP voters did and that all went to **** too. Anyone who thinks that one party could do better than the other is naive because Govts are only there to suit themselves, not us.

[nothing2lose]

Nothing in the budget impacts us at all except we have to live in a country that's meaner and treats its most vulnerable with disdain.

[PumpkinZulu]

I've also literally never paid for a doctors appointment. The first time I paid for any sort of medical care was with DD2's birth, when we hired private midwives. My mum was single and low income though, and we're now low income too, so I guess the HCC would be the factor there?