How will patient contributions affect you?
Providers will collect contributions from patients
$5 from every $7 patient contribution will be directed towards the Medical Research Future Fund
Concession card holder
Carmela is a concession card holder. She uses 15 services per year.
Current
Carmela receives her services for free from bulk‑billing providers.
From 1 July 2015
Carmela can expect to contribute $7 for each service for a maximum of 10 services or $70.
The Government will contribute around $608.50 towards the cost of her GP visits (based on a standard GP consultation* and a Low Gap Incentive**).
Bulk-billing providers can expect to receive:
- a $7 patient contribution
- the MBS rebate (less $5)
- a Low Gap Incentive (for concessional patients and children under 16 years).
After a concessional patient or child reaches 10 services the rebate will increase by $5.
Providers will continue to receive the Low Gap Incentive if they do not charge the patient for the rest of the calendar year.
General patient
Bill does not have a concession card.
He visits a GP once a year
Current
Bill's GP charges him $70 for this service.
His out-of-pocket costs are $32.30 after he receives a refund of $37.70* from Medicare for a standard GP consultation.
From 1 July 2015
Bill can expect to continue to pay $70.
He will receive a smaller refund from Medicare (e.g. $32.70 — which is $37.70 less $5).
Bill can expect his out-of-pocket costs will be $37.30.
The Government will contribute around $32.70 (based on a standard GP consultation*).
Children under 16 years
Sarah and Liam have two children Dean and Sally — they do not have a concession card.
Dean, aged 12, has asthma and visits the doctor around 12 times per year.
Sally has just started school and visits around four times a year for minor illnesses.
Current
Dean and Sally receive services for free from bulk-billing providers.
From 1 July 2015
Dean's parents can expect to contribute $7 for each of his first 10 visits, or $70 in total (reaching his service cap) and $28 for Sally's four visits.
The family can expect to contribute $98 in total.
The Government will contribute around $632.40 (based on a standard GP consultation* and a Low Gap Incentive**).
*Standard Level B GP consultation with an estimated MBS fee in 2015 of $37.70. ** Low Gap Incentive with an estimated MBS fee of $6.20 in 2015.