16 Reasons To Feel Sick About Mr Abbott's Changes To Medicare

The Abbott Government is trying to balance its books by charging Australians for getting sick. New costs for GP visits and additional ones for prescription drugs will cost Australians an arm and a leg -- literally.

1. Mr Abbott is leading us down the path of a US-style healthcare system, which everyone knows turns chemistry teachers into drug dealers.

i2.wp.com

2. 40% of people say they'd be deterred from seeing their GP if charged a co-payment - this means that nasty cold will continue going round and round and round ...

At least no one will realise you caught it from Kevin in finance.

3. The guy who called himself "the best friend of medicare" totally lied to our faces!

images.theage.com.au

Maybe he was secretly winking when he said "No cuts to health"?

4. Women are going to be hit the hardest by the Sick Tax because they're more likely to see their GP on a regular basis.

This coming from the guy who calls himself the Prime Minister for Women. No, actually.

5. WE ALREADY PAY FOR MEDICARE OUT OF OUR TAXES IN EVERY PAY.

pbs.twimg.com

Because that's quite literally the definition of universal healthcare.

6. Mr Abbott's electorate has among the lowest bulk billing rates in the country - so stands to be impacted the least by the new GP-fee

7. Treasurer Hockey tried to downplay the Sick Tax by comparing it to the cost of “a couple of beers or one third of a packet of cigarettes"

He has a point though, most people would prefer a nice, cold beer over a pap smear.

8. Even GPs think the Sick Tax is a bad idea!

And everybody knows you need to listen to your doctor.

9. Child vaccinations aren't even immune from the Sick Tax!

What's worse though, that fact or that lazy pun?

10. Some health centres are resorting to texting their patients to let them know the Sick Tax hasn't hit yet, as up to 50% of appointments stopped showing up.

And you thought it might have been Kevin from finance texting ... Sorry, honey.

11. The Sick Tax adds yet another barrier to Aboriginal and Torres Strait from accessing healthcare.

Did we mention that Mr Abbott is also the Minister for Indigenous Affairs? Yep.

12. Co-payments to see a GP actually costs taxpayers more in the long run because it drives people away from cheaper preventative care.

Like when you don't get your car serviced for a while and then this happens.

13. The Sick Tax proposal came from a guy who runs a think-tank funded by private health funds and private hospitals.

Then again, it's not like the private sector is overly concerned about profits.

14. As a percentage of GDP, Australian government spending on health is the tenth lowest of the 33 countries in the OECD database and the lowest among wealthy countries

resources1.news.com.au

Uh, is he about to wink again?

15. The people who'll be hit hardest by Abbott's Sick Tax are those who already suffer from chronic diseases and thus need to see their GP more frequently.

I think it starts with an "F" ...

16. Still not convinced the Sick Tax is political poison?

Medicare? Don't you mean Medica$h?