Australia has no plans to allow private health insurance cover of general practitioner (GP) care in the country. Currently, under Australian law, private health insurance cannot offer cover for out-of-hospital medical services, including GP visits, because they can be covered by Medicare.
Australia’s federal health and aged care minister Mark Butler has ruled out scrapping a ban on the insurers subsidising GP visits, citing concerns it would create a two-tier healthcare system in the country.
It has been pointed out that the number of Australians signing up for private health insurance cover continues to rise. According to a news report as of 30 September 2024, 54.7% of the Australian population had some form of general treatment cover.
An NGO Members Health CE Matthew Koce said there must be an immediate end to the ban to help cover GP costs, saying it is ‘long passed its used by date’.
“GPs underpin the health system. They are fundamental to good population health. Putting off a trip to the GP due to expensive out-of-pocket costs can have very serious consequences,” he said.
“It makes no sense that health insurance funds can help cover the cost of dental, optical and physio appointments but not something as important as a trip to the GP. It will help make a trip to the GP more accessible for more Australians, deliver better health outcomes and combat rising cost-of-living pressures.’
However, Mr Butler said the government has no plans currently to end the ban on insurers covering GP visits.