Going to the doctor won't necessarily be free after the election, here's why

But it isn't that simple.

Labor is promising to bulk-bill all Australians at a cost of $8.5 billion over four years.

"I want every Australian to know they only need their Medicare card, not their credit card, to receive the healthcare they need," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on February 23.

Not to be outdone, Liberal leader Peter Dutton said a Coalition government will match the agreement with a "historic" $9 billion, including an already announced plan to boost mental health by $500 million.

But experts say despite the lofty promises from both sides it doesn't mean the GP visit will automatically be free for all Australians.

Bulk-billing refers to medical services where you don't have to pay any out-of-pocket expenses.

The federal government offers a bulk-billing incentive. It currently applies to certain demographics such as children under 16 and concession card holders.

This incentive, which was tripled in November 2023, is weighted for rural areas: (Metro $21.35), Regional centres ($32.50), Large-medium rural towns ($34.50), Small rural towns ($36.65), Remote communities ($38.70) and very remote communities ($41.10).

Labor's announcement will expand the current bulk-billing incentive so that it can be used for all Australians (not just kids and concession card holders) from November this year.

This means a GP that bulk-bills any patient will now receive a Medicare payment comprising of the rebate ($42.85 for a standard consultation) and a bulk-billing incentive payment.

Mr Albanese wants nine out of 10 GP visits to be bulk-billed by 2030.

But there's a catch.

Not necessarily.

The good news is the new policy under Labor will encourage more practices to completely bulk-bill all patients.

This is because not only will the bulk-billing incentive apply to all Australians but Labor has added a 12.5 per cent loading payment on Medicare rebates when a practice completely bulk-bills all patients.

The Medicare payment for a standard GP consultation at a practice where all patients are bulk-billed will be almost two-thirds higher than it is now, increasing from $42.85 to $69.56.

The Medicare payment for the same consult at a bulk-billed rural practice will be almost double what it is now, increasing from $42.85 to up to $84.86, depending on location.

Australian Medical Association chair of public health Dr Michael Bonning told ACM that Labor's policy will "preferentially help regional and rural Australians".

This is because the "loading for bulk-billing is significantly higher in more regional and remote areas".

But he said there is no mechanism forcing GP practices to bulk-bill all patients or even more patients, and many practices may still not be able to afford to do this despite the increased rebates.

The policy, he said, will help GPs to have more options to support disadvantaged and vulnerable populations, with less financial disincentive if they bulk-billed certain patients.

Dr Bonning said regional Australians generally spend longer at the GP because of a lack of specialist services in the bush which also needs to be factored in.

There is some further good news when it comes to healthcare beyond bulk-billing in the announcement.

While the policy centres around the bulk-billing incentive change, it also includes a $600 million package to increase the GP workforce.

Rural Doctors Foundation director Dr Michael Rice told ACM that more doctors going into general practice "should translate into more doctors caring for country Australians".

"It is good that both sides of politics are recognising the need for substantial investment in primary care as a way of keeping people healthy in their community and away from the more expensive and less efficient hospital system."

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