A development that will cause despair in the Labor party; my 88 year old mother has confirmed that she won't be changing her vote to Labor, despite the proposed Medicare Gold scheme! 'I'm worried about interest rates,' she told me. She has private hospital cover and would save some money if the scheme came in, but she's unmoved.
I hate to admit this, but I actually agree with a sentiment of the The Bunyip, who, in his usual long winded way, questions why Gold Medicare is not to be means tested.
For battlers, one could perhaps advance a case that the public purse makes an appropriate pillow. But across-the-board largesse? Guaranteed access to the enforced generosity of one's fellow citizens? Surely Latham is joking.and ...
But the idea that consumers, insulated by insurance, need never bear the full burden of their medical costs is certainly no way to run a health system.
Quite right. But then, a lot of retired voters are self funded, and Labor is desperate for their votes, too. Lathem can always means test the system later. On the other hand, the Professor is ignoring the Medicare safety net, which, although it does make the well off pay more, is just as likely to blow out the health budget.
