'Missing out on basic health care': Australians spend $34 billion a year on out-of-pocket health costs

Sydney Morning Herald

15 April 2019 - Australians are paying more for health care than most other developed nations, forking out $34 billion a year on out-of-pocket health costs, an analysis of official data reveals.

The latest data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that of the $181 billion spent annually on health, 19% is paid directly from patients' pockets.

Those out of pocket costs equate to 3% of Australian household spending, the third-highest in the OECD behind South Korea (5.7%) and Sweden (3.8%).

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Michael Wonder

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Michael Wonder