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Who's Getting Caught? An Analysis of the Australian Medicare Safety Net
Author(s) -
Van Gool Kees,
Savage Elizabeth,
Viney Rosalie,
Haas Marion,
Anderson Rob
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
australian economic review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.308
H-Index - 29
eISSN - 1467-8462
pISSN - 0004-9018
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8462.2009.00533.x
Subject(s) - safety net , equity (law) , business , distribution (mathematics) , net income , health care , health services , finance , public economics , demographic economics , actuarial science , environmental health , economics , medicine , economic growth , political science , mathematical analysis , population , mathematics , law
The Medicare Safety Net (MSN) was introduced in March 2004 to provide financial relief for those who incur high out‐of‐pocket costs from medical services. The policy has the potential to improve equity. This study examines: (i) how the health and income profiles of small areas influence MSN expenditure; and (ii) the distribution of expenditure by medical service type. The results indicate that MSN expenditure is positively related to income and that patients who use private obstetricians and assisted reproductive services are the greatest beneficiaries. The MSN has possibly created greater inequities in Australia's health‐care financing arrangements.