knockoff nige

Are we not doing that now?

Amazulu

Not sufficiently

knockoff nige

Do you know something we don't? $4billion on '"the world's most advanced maritime patrol aircraft" seems like a massive waste of money to me. Maybe the problem isn't insufficient fund but more inefficient spending. That's what they seem to think of everything that's begging for money. But their fancy new defence toys come with a tag that should make us feel better about how they are spending our money. It's tiring.

Amazulu

This order is nothing new and has been common knowledge for years

8 is not enough and should have been 16 and not based in South Australia but in Northern NT and WA. These platforms are probably a bit OTT capability wise and we should have gone for a bit more quantity over quality

BTW, the UK, a country that would die within a few weeks without maritime trade has none

carolinephillips

$6??? My GP charges $65.

Dreamy

That's bizarre - I've been going to the same physio twice a week since last August. Apart from the initial five sessions (which I somehow got free - thanks Diabetes Care Plan!) I've paid exactly the same gap payment every time.

What annoys me is, like everyone else, why you pay an arm and a leg for insurance and it doesn't cover everything. It's like pet insurance - we had that in the UK, we had to pay the excess (fair enough) but all the rest was covered. Here it's 80% up to a maximum amount. Weird.

It's like they don't really understand the process.

My recent knee surgery - apart from the direct hospital fee which the insurance covered - my health insurance covered all of about $100, medicare gave me the biggest rebate. How can that be right?

Dreamy

It's a $6 fee for visits to doctors which bulk bill.

carolinephillips

I think there will be a lot of protesting. What if you have a chronic condition which necessitates frequent visits to the doctors? Especially hard on those whose income is too high for benefits, but only just. The super rich won't notice that payment, but it will hit elderly and those just keeping afloat.

Beoz

I'm not super rich, but I don't believe those who are rich should be punished for their success.

Swerv-o

Yup. Defence and health require specialist knowledge and equipment and by that virtue necessitate being state responsibilities. The average punter can learn how to replace a light fitting or a tap, but can't generally build an MRI or SAM site.


S

asher

I have regulated pain meds which mean I have to visit the gp every month for a prescription as we aren't allowed repeats.
I have medication not licensed for pain so have to pay $100 for 7 days supply
I can't claim any benefits as I haven't been a citizen for 10 years yet.

those of us with chronic health problems don't need any more costs.

Swerv-o

Yesw, this seems even more unfair. My GF has recently had over $7k worth of skin cancer treatment, but because it was done in-clinic, not in a hospital, her 'insurance' provider doesn't want to know, and because it's a private clinic offering new technology, there's no Medicare rebate either.

I'd say she's probably paid enough now?


S

Wol

Surely you are entitled to some refund regardless of time as a citizen?

You will certainly be able to claim a tax rebate at EOY.

knockoff nige

Yes, believe if your medication costs are over $2000 a year or something like that, you're entitled to a tax refund.

I think this guy definitely should be paying more for his health care as he obviously doesn't care how his unhealthy lifestyle impacts the health system.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-2...t-work/5283940

renth

I think this is the last year you can claim the 20% rebate on costs over about $2000. BUT I also think you had to have made a claim for the 20% rebate last year to get it this year :-(