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Medicare at 40: Are We Showing Our Age?

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  • Jane Hall
  • Kees van Gool
  • Philip Haywood
  • Denzil Fiebig

Abstract

To understand what Medicare aimed to achieve, we need to revisit the medico‐politics of the time, and the fear of the spectre of socialised medicine. That determined what could be changed (universal insurance and contributions according to means) and what could not (private medical service provision and fee‐for‐service). We consider what Medicare has achieved in terms of community acceptance, fairer contributions, affordability at its establishment; and how those aims can be assessed today. While Medicare is undoubtedly a success, there are inflexibilities in its structure that are challenging in ensuring it is fit for the next four decades.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ausecr:v:57:y:2024:i:2:p:200-205
    DOI: 10.1111/1467-8462.12559
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. Kadir Atalay & Rebecca Edwards & Fiona Georgiakakis, 2023. "Mortality inequality, spatial differences and health care access," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 32(11), pages 2632-2654, November.
    3. Denzil G. Fiebig & Kees van Gool & Jane Hall & Chunzhou Mu, 2021. "Health care use in response to health shocks: Does socio‐economic status matter?," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(12), pages 3032-3050, December.
    4. Ross Williams, 2024. "Australian Pioneers in Health Economics: The Origins of Medicare," Australian Economic Review, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, vol. 57(2), pages 145-148, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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