Reposted by Karen
Reposted by Karen
Australia’s “free” and “universal” healthcare really just means:
- If you’re rich you can access preventative healthcare, medications and surgery whenever you want.
- If you’re poor we’ll patch you up in hospital after the fact and send you back home with the same underlying health issues.
- If you’re rich you can access preventative healthcare, medications and surgery whenever you want.
- If you’re poor we’ll patch you up in hospital after the fact and send you back home with the same underlying health issues.
January 16, 2026 at 1:54 AM
Australia’s “free” and “universal” healthcare really just means:
- If you’re rich you can access preventative healthcare, medications and surgery whenever you want.
- If you’re poor we’ll patch you up in hospital after the fact and send you back home with the same underlying health issues.
- If you’re rich you can access preventative healthcare, medications and surgery whenever you want.
- If you’re poor we’ll patch you up in hospital after the fact and send you back home with the same underlying health issues.
It puzzles me why the govt doesn't put more money into disease prevention. I get that the budget is tight, but not doing so is false economy.
It's also inequitable. The only people who can afford screening tests & preventative medications are the better off. The poor will miss out, as always.
It's also inequitable. The only people who can afford screening tests & preventative medications are the better off. The poor will miss out, as always.
January 16, 2026 at 3:20 AM
It puzzles me why the govt doesn't put more money into disease prevention. I get that the budget is tight, but not doing so is false economy.
It's also inequitable. The only people who can afford screening tests & preventative medications are the better off. The poor will miss out, as always.
It's also inequitable. The only people who can afford screening tests & preventative medications are the better off. The poor will miss out, as always.
When my GP wrote me the referral, she warned me that it wasn't rebatable because I'm not 70.
I asked her whether I was being overly paranoid & having this bone density scan too soon. She said definitely not. Over 60, it's an excellent idea to have one.
But without a rebate, many ppl just can't.
I asked her whether I was being overly paranoid & having this bone density scan too soon. She said definitely not. Over 60, it's an excellent idea to have one.
But without a rebate, many ppl just can't.
January 16, 2026 at 3:17 AM
When my GP wrote me the referral, she warned me that it wasn't rebatable because I'm not 70.
I asked her whether I was being overly paranoid & having this bone density scan too soon. She said definitely not. Over 60, it's an excellent idea to have one.
But without a rebate, many ppl just can't.
I asked her whether I was being overly paranoid & having this bone density scan too soon. She said definitely not. Over 60, it's an excellent idea to have one.
But without a rebate, many ppl just can't.
Dx: I have osteopenia, which is a loss of bone density but not as severe as osteoporosis.
Now I know, I can do something about it.
But why are bone scans not rebatable under 70? Surely it's better to know as early as possible & prevent it worsening?
I'm lucky; I can afford it. Many can't.
Now I know, I can do something about it.
But why are bone scans not rebatable under 70? Surely it's better to know as early as possible & prevent it worsening?
I'm lucky; I can afford it. Many can't.
January 16, 2026 at 3:13 AM
Dx: I have osteopenia, which is a loss of bone density but not as severe as osteoporosis.
Now I know, I can do something about it.
But why are bone scans not rebatable under 70? Surely it's better to know as early as possible & prevent it worsening?
I'm lucky; I can afford it. Many can't.
Now I know, I can do something about it.
But why are bone scans not rebatable under 70? Surely it's better to know as early as possible & prevent it worsening?
I'm lucky; I can afford it. Many can't.
Sort of related:
I had a bone density scan t'other day. Wanted to find out if I had osteoporosis or was at risk of it. I didn't want to find out for the first time after I'd broken a hip or crushed a vertebra.
No Medicare rebate because I'm under 70. Had to pay every cent of the scan myself.
>
I had a bone density scan t'other day. Wanted to find out if I had osteoporosis or was at risk of it. I didn't want to find out for the first time after I'd broken a hip or crushed a vertebra.
No Medicare rebate because I'm under 70. Had to pay every cent of the scan myself.
>
January 16, 2026 at 3:08 AM
Sort of related:
I had a bone density scan t'other day. Wanted to find out if I had osteoporosis or was at risk of it. I didn't want to find out for the first time after I'd broken a hip or crushed a vertebra.
No Medicare rebate because I'm under 70. Had to pay every cent of the scan myself.
>
I had a bone density scan t'other day. Wanted to find out if I had osteoporosis or was at risk of it. I didn't want to find out for the first time after I'd broken a hip or crushed a vertebra.
No Medicare rebate because I'm under 70. Had to pay every cent of the scan myself.
>
Reposted by Karen
Amazing to compare the haste over this with the political response to the SSM campaign.
"Oh no, we have to be very careful and considered, we can't have politicians making decisions over something this important. In fact, we'd better consult with the voters via a plebiscite. Make your cases."
"Oh no, we have to be very careful and considered, we can't have politicians making decisions over something this important. In fact, we'd better consult with the voters via a plebiscite. Make your cases."
January 15, 2026 at 1:07 AM
Amazing to compare the haste over this with the political response to the SSM campaign.
"Oh no, we have to be very careful and considered, we can't have politicians making decisions over something this important. In fact, we'd better consult with the voters via a plebiscite. Make your cases."
"Oh no, we have to be very careful and considered, we can't have politicians making decisions over something this important. In fact, we'd better consult with the voters via a plebiscite. Make your cases."
Yeah, it's a strange "petty gripe", isn't it.
I have plenty of petty gripes about things that directly affect ME.
But I don't drink coffee at all, & as far as I'm concerned, people who do drink it can drink it any way they want. The idea that there's a "proper" way is ridiculous.
I have plenty of petty gripes about things that directly affect ME.
But I don't drink coffee at all, & as far as I'm concerned, people who do drink it can drink it any way they want. The idea that there's a "proper" way is ridiculous.
January 14, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Yeah, it's a strange "petty gripe", isn't it.
I have plenty of petty gripes about things that directly affect ME.
But I don't drink coffee at all, & as far as I'm concerned, people who do drink it can drink it any way they want. The idea that there's a "proper" way is ridiculous.
I have plenty of petty gripes about things that directly affect ME.
But I don't drink coffee at all, & as far as I'm concerned, people who do drink it can drink it any way they want. The idea that there's a "proper" way is ridiculous.
Reposted by Karen
But the most tragic sentence is omitted: "They're allowed to take only a knapsack and a little cash with them, and even then, they're robbed of these possessions on the way." Even she, at 13, or her confidants, didn't really understand.
January 14, 2026 at 1:05 AM
But the most tragic sentence is omitted: "They're allowed to take only a knapsack and a little cash with them, and even then, they're robbed of these possessions on the way." Even she, at 13, or her confidants, didn't really understand.