Australian families are being priced out of essential healthcare as specialist medical appointment fees skyrocket to unprecedented levels, with some patients facing bills of $1,000 for a single one-hour consultation.
The $1,000 Appointment Shock
When Veronica received an email from her son's paediatric practice in Perth announcing that one-hour appointments would now cost $1,000, she had to read it twice. The 36% fee increase left her stunned and concerned about her son's ongoing care for ADHD management.
"I couldn't actually believe it," Veronica recalls. "I thought it was wrong."
The practice justified the dramatic increase by citing rising operational costs over two years, including rent, electricity, and wages. They claimed passing on these costs was necessary to maintain service quality.
Veronica now worries about what happens if her son's condition requires more intensive care. "Children progress, and they need intervention quickly to be able to capitalise on their schooling years," she explains, highlighting how delayed care could affect his educational development and overall functioning.
A System at Breaking Point
Dr Elizabeth Deveny, chief executive of the Consumer Health Forum, describes the affordability crisis as a "live issue" that has reached critical levels.
"The feedback we get from Australians shows that we're really at a tipping point," Deveny states. "You shouldn't have to win the lottery just to see a specialist for care."
Recent data reveals the severity of the situation:
- Average out-of-pocket costs for specialist attendances have grown by 73% in real terms since 2010
- Only 32% of Australians feel confident they could afford necessary care if seriously ill
- 49% reported not accessing needed healthcare at least once in the past year
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem, with many doctors working fewer hours while charging more for appointments. In some regions, specialist scarcity has directly contributed to higher prices.
Root Causes and Failed Solutions
Associate Professor Julian Rait of the Australian Medical Association points to rising overheads including wages, utilities and insurance fees as primary drivers. "Where the system is broken down is that the public system can't cope with the amount of demand," he explains.
The problem is particularly acute in under-supplied specialties like dermatology, obstetrics and gynaecology, and ophthalmology, where training position shortages create care deserts across the country.
Research by Professor Anthony Scott from Monash University's Centre for Health Economics reveals that consultation fees are increasing by 5-6% annually, significantly faster than inflation and population growth.
Perhaps most concerning is evidence showing that increasing Medicare rebates provides little relief, as doctors tend to raise their fees alongside any government benefit increases.
Transparency Crisis and Patient Powerlessness
Patients face another significant barrier: a complete lack of price transparency. The government's Medical Costs Finder website has failed to provide meaningful information about what specialists actually charge.
Dr Nick Coatsworth, Patients Australia's ambassador for health reform, describes a "triple whammy" affecting Australians: "You pay your Medicare levy, are forced to have private health insurance, and now face skyrocketing out-of-pocket costs."
The power imbalance between doctors and patients prevents many from challenging fees. A Patients Australia survey found only 7% of patients complain when unhappy with costs, reflecting what chief executive Lisa Robins calls "an intrinsic power imbalance between a doctor and a patient."
For families like Veronica's, the choice often comes down to financial strain or compromised care. "I felt too compromised that we would be at risk of being left without care," she admits, echoing the impossible decisions facing thousands of Australians.
