Blog Post
I have read this article and lots of the comments at the end. I personally have nothing but praise for the public system that we pay for via our medicare levy. My husband and I many years ago decided against private health insurance due to the gap fees back then.
I have gone public through my whole BC drama since June 2012 and have only paid for an MRI and plastic surgeon consults. I have had a pretty normal BC experience, 3 (soon to be 4) surgeries, chemo 6 months, no radio but a public clinic has just been bought to my region (thank you govt), my waiting times have been completely reasonable for someone with cancer and really only limited by the number of times the surgeon has the operating rights at the hospital. I am on a waiting list now for revision surgery that has reduced from 12 months to 6 months because the hospital is dealing with the demand. I got a new wig (to borrow) for free through the Wigwam at the hospital.
I know some people have drugs that are not covered by medicare especially with advanced disease, and I cant imagine how distressing it would be to have your health compromised by limited financial capacity or distance to facilities but I cant help but think that we should be happy that in our country we have a choice.
The other thing I have praise for are the surgeons who work in both public and private hospitals. So we not only have choice of public or private, but its often the same surgeons. And if you are covered by insurance, you can still choose public.
Louie :)