A little while ago, I blogged about the relatively affordable cost of AC in Australia. A policy instituted by the former government means that currently, when your out of pocket medical expenses (those that are covered by our universal healthcare system Medicare) reach about $1100, the government will rebate 80 per cent of the subsequent expenses.
The Australian healthcare system is widely recognised as one of the best and most equitable in the world. It was used as the model for Hillary Clinton’s model of proposed healthcare reform in the USA and is upheld as an example to other nations who attempt health reform.
So it was a great shock when I learned today that the medicare safety net is a possible casualty in budgetary reforms soon to be put forward by the federal government.
Australia is in bad shape. It’s not as bad as many others, including New Zealand and the US, but we are in pretty dire financial straits.
In the last five or so months, a raft of stimulus packages have been proposed and executed by the federal government, mainly to their core base of “working families” (which my partner and I, being childless are not) in order to put some dollars back into the economy – the rationale being that it was going into the hands of those who are most likely to spend. As a result, the nice, solid financial buffer that had been built up has been eroded.
And the current government needs to cut costs, so something that is allegedly coming under review is that safety net, which costs hundreds of millions dollars a year. It is all speculation at the moment, but speculation starts somewhere. I have private health insurance, but it doesn’t cover AC.
So I have started writing and calling the relevant people. Predictably the profit driven IVF clinics have seized upon this with gusto, and are urging infertile couples to take action. I am very cynical about private clinics and healthcare, but if it is the only way I can get a baby, I’m going to join the fight.
If anyone wants to help, these contacts were given to me by ACCESS, the Australian infertility network, however any communication needs to be received by this Friday. Please email these people and tell them how important it is that the federal government continues to subsidise Assisted Conception.
The Hon. Kevin Rudd MP
Prime Minister
T: 02 6277 7700 F: 02 6273 4100
Email: alister.jordan@pm.gov.au
Email ankit.kumar@pm.gov.au
The Hon. Lindsay Tanner MP
Minister for Finance
T: 02 6277 7400 F: 02 6273 4110
E: anthony.baker@finance.gov.au
The Hon. Nicola Roxon MP
Minister for Health and Ageing
T: 02 6277 7220 F: 02 6273 4146
E: ruth.kearon@health.gov.au
The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP
Leader of the Opposition
T: 02 6277 4208 F: 02 6277 4208
E: josh.faulks@aph.gov.au
The Hon. Peter Dutton MP
Shadow Minister for Health& Ageing
T: 02 6277 4884 F: 02 62778572
E: Peter.Dutton.MP@aph.gov.au
Posted by Token 