So the co payment is gone, so where to now because the problem of our unaffordable, unsustainable health system has not.

So what about a much fairer system then, one that rewards people who at least try to live a healthy lifestyle.

I feel the time has come whereby all treatment for self inflicted illnesses are no longer funded by the tax layers generosity (medical conditions excluded of cause) because let's face it, we can't continue to help everybody and why should those who live a healthy lifestyle and pay to visit the doctor while those who choose to ignor all the warnings get free medical.

My suggestion is for anyone with a self inflicted illness when receiving treatment gets charged a co payment, because let's face it, a pack of fags, or a carton of grog accounts for plenty of $7 co payments, and they choose to indulge, not the tax payer.

Sure, many tax payers also have self inflicted illnesses, so they too should pay a co payment because it's the best way to encourage a healthy lifestyle, to hit the pocket of the offender.

As we venture ever closer to the point of unstainainabillity, we must make the hard choices and decide when and where to make the cuts because we can't continue to expect the pro active, well disciplined to continue supporting those who seemingly refuse to help themselves. So people can then decide to continue with their unhealthy lifestyles, and a co payment,or they can change, but they can't expect the tax payers to continue supporting their unhealthy choices.

I see you are disappointed that Abbott's hugely unpopular co-payment (and almost all of his other 'promises') have been 'axed' rehctub?

Your ideas have been floated before, by people who think their lives are perfect and they are a cut above the rest of society in all ways.

As people over 65 constitute the most expensive users of the health system, for simply having one or many 'old age' health problems, I would suggest it is this age-group who should be paying more for their health care,
What do you think?

Thank you, Rehctub,

I sincerely hope that indeed this health system will not be sustained.

While there are exceptions, the rule should be that people pay for their own medical expenses - whatever is agreed between them and their doctors and other health-providers. Alternately, one could take a health insurance, one that is truly private unlike the hoax we currently have. As these are not available in Australia, I am about to take a new international health insurance from overseas, then ditch my Australian one.

Needless to mention, I refuse to accept even one cent from the Medicare thieves - and I hope that any of you with conscience will follow suit.

Back in the simpler days of the 60, I paid 3 shillings a week, [from about 20 quid], for full hospital medical benefits, for a family of 3.

Of course we did not do cat scans & a host of other expensive tests, with multi million dollar machinery, on every one with a cut finger back then.

We will have to cut back on this level of expenditure, or our medical costs will soon exceed our GDP.

At the same time, I have been waiting far too long just to see a specialist, for a diagnosis.

This is one where the answer is really a lemon. We can't afford to do, what we have recently learnt how to do, for everyone, particularly for free, but who decides where to draw the line. Some older people particularly get so much treatment, for so little advantage to them, or society, it shouldn't happen, but on whose decision.

Currently it appears the program is to not see people, & hope they die before bitching too loudly. I doubt there is an answer. It looks as if we will keep over spending until we crash & burn.

The government cannot have their cake and eat it too.
The medicare levy was introduced to pay for the health care system.
Maybe with the increase of health cost this levy should be raised maybe especially for smokers or the obese.
My neighbour paid his taxes all his life and at 75 had a heart attack which required six weeks in hospital. Despite private health insurance he was still out of pocket $50,000 requiring him to remortgage his house to pay for it. This is not acceptable.

Get used to it ponde, it is where we are, & will have to go.

It is not unfair that people should have to pay for what they use. You don't expect the taxpayer to buy you a new car do you, so why a new/repaired heart? Of course crazy ideas like the NDIS has the disabled expecting such luxuries, but it is not going to happen.

It is only unfair if we give the same treatment your neighbour paid for, to every yob who has wasted their money, & has none to pay.

Public medicine will have to go back to setting breakages, sewing up wounds, & minor surgery like tonsils & appendix removal. No society can afford to keep sticking replacement hearts lungs & livers in everyone, & particularly not those who have destroyed theirs with lifestyle.

Just be thankful that we have lived in the lucky era when such things were possible, if only for a couple of decades.