Originally posted by Eladar
How much tax money goes into the health system?
Tax money plus you private insurance premiums should be combined when calculating cost.
Do you have insurance with a deductible or copay or is service free with premiums?
Australians willingly pay a 2% (on income) tax to the Medicare system, because we know our poorest are taken care of, as we will be ourselves if we choose not to pay private cover. Also a 10% consumption tax on non-food items.
The public system is totally free, not a cent for anything including discharge pharmacy and home after-care nurses. There can be a longish wait for non-life-threatening surgery though.
We pay $260 per month (for a couple) for top private hospital cover, no exclusions, $500 excess per person per year. We've paid out the $500 several times over the years but we're still ahead on that. We don't subscribe to "extras" cover which in my opinion is poor value for money, although it would be OK for some lifestyles.
Australians would annihilate at the ballot box any party/group which wanted an American-style health system. Because voting is compulsory here, we take an interest in what our politicians do, not the propaganda they spout for the media.