Australia is in the grip of a healthcare affordability crisis with patients skipping appointments because of the cost.
Robby Khera has copped a triple whammy – COVID-19, a throbbing toothache and now a hefty dental bill.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: New data shows Australians skipping medical appointments due to cost
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“That has overtaken the pain, like when I think $4000 where I’m going to take $4000 from,” he said.
His dental dilemma is a familiar story with millions skipping costly dental and medical appointments.
“One in five Australians is actually delaying doctor visits due to cost,” Finder’s Taylor Blackburn said.
New data from Finder has uncovered financial pressure is forcing one in five to emergency departments because they can’t afford a GP.
It found 27 per cent of those surveyed copped unexpected medical costs despite having health insurance and 1.5 million Australians are cancelling their private cover.
“Everything is all adding up and it is really, really pushing us to the limits,” Khera said.
“There’s a lot of people that have to make the tough decision between eating and seeing the doctor or keeping the lights on or having their tooth fixed,” Blackburn said.
More than 80 per cent of GPs now bulk bill but patients can wait a year to access public dental clinics, with many dipping into retirement savings to fund treatment.
Health care delays can worsen conditions and result in tens of thousands of preventable hospitalisations.
