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Who's Getting Caught? An Analysis of the Australian Medicare Safety Net

Author

Listed:
  • Kees Van Gool
  • Elizabeth Savage
  • Rosalie Viney
  • Marion Haas
  • Rob Anderson

Abstract

The Medicare Safety Net (MSN) was introduced in March 2004 to provide financial relief for those who incur high out‐of‐pocket costs from medical services. The policy has the potential to improve equity. This study examines: (i) how the health and income profiles of small areas influence MSN expenditure; and (ii) the distribution of expenditure by medical service type. The results indicate that MSN expenditure is positively related to income and that patients who use private obstetricians and assisted reproductive services are the greatest beneficiaries. The MSN has possibly created greater inequities in Australia's health‐care financing arrangements.

Suggested Citation

  • Kees Van Gool & Elizabeth Savage & Rosalie Viney & Marion Haas & Rob Anderson, 2009. "Who's Getting Caught? An Analysis of the Australian Medicare Safety Net," Australian Economic Review, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, vol. 42(2), pages 143-154, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ausecr:v:42:y:2009:i:2:p:143-154
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8462.2009.00533.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Glenn Jones & Elizabeth Savage & Kees Van Gool, 2008. "The Distribution of Household Health Expenditures in Australia," The Economic Record, The Economic Society of Australia, vol. 84(s1), pages 99-114, September.
    2. Van Doorslaer, Eddy & Clarke, Philip & Savage, Elizabeth & Hall, Jane, 2008. "Horizontal inequities in Australia's mixed public/private health care system," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(1), pages 97-108, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Naghsh Nejad, Maryam & Van Gool, Kees, 2024. "Impact of Time of Diagnosis on Out-of-Pocket Costs of Cancer Treatment, a Side Effect of Health Insurance Design in Australia," IZA Discussion Papers 16879, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Damien Eldridge & Catagay Koc & Ilke Onur & Malathi Velamuri, 2011. "The Impact of Private Hospital Insurance on Utilization of Hospital Care in Australia: Evidence from the National Health Survey," Working Papers 2011.01, School of Economics, La Trobe University, revised Jan 2011.
    3. Damien Eldridge & Catagay Koc & Ilke Onur & Malathi Velamuri, 2011. "The Impact of Private Hospital Insurance on Utilization of Hospital Care in Australia: Evidence from the National Health Survey," Working Papers 2011.01, School of Economics, La Trobe University, revised Jan 2011.
    4. Sabanovic, Hana & La Brooy, Camille & Méndez, Susan J. & Yong, Jongsay & Scott, Anthony & Elshaug, Adam G. & Prang, Khic-Houy, 2023. "“It's not a one operation fits all”: A qualitative study exploring fee setting and participation in price transparency initiatives amongst medical specialists in the Australian private healthcare sect," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 339(C).
    5. Yong, Jongsay & Elshaug, Adam G & Mendez, Susan J & Prang, Khic-Houy & Scott, Anthony, 2024. "Sources of specialist physician fee variation: Evidence from Australian health insurance claims data," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    6. Olukorede Abiona & Phil Haywood & Serena Yu & Jane Hall & Denzil G. Fiebig & Kees van Gool, 2024. "Physician responses to insurance benefit restrictions: The case of ophthalmology," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 33(5), pages 911-928, May.
    7. Naghsh-Nejad, Maryam & van Gool, Kees, 2024. "Impact of time of diagnosis on out-of-pocket costs of cancer treatment, a side effect of health insurance design in Australia," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    8. Jane Hall & Kees van Gool & Philip Haywood & Denzil Fiebig, 2024. "Medicare at 40: Are We Showing Our Age?," Australian Economic Review, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, vol. 57(2), pages 200-205, June.
    9. Van Doorslaer, Eddy & Clarke, Philip & Savage, Elizabeth & Hall, Jane, 2008. "Horizontal inequities in Australia's mixed public/private health care system," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 86(1), pages 97-108, April.
    10. Pulok, Mohammad Habibullah & van Gool, Kees & Hall, Jane, 2020. "Inequity in physician visits: the case of the unregulated fee market in Australia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    11. Benoit, Cecilia & Zadoroznyj, Maria & Hallgrimsdottir, Helga & Treloar, Adrienne & Taylor, Kara, 2010. "Medical dominance and neoliberalisation in maternal care provision: The evidence from Canada and Australia," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 71(3), pages 475-481, August.
    12. Yu, Serena & van Gool, Kees & Hall, Jane & Fiebig, Denzil G., 2019. "Physician pricing behavior: Evidence from an Australian experiment," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 20-34.

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