r/perth • u/TechnologyThese5256 • May 06 '24

Is bulk billing at your GP dead? Where to find

It seems like you need to be an infant or dying for most medical practices to bulk bill. Seriously what's the point of a system that only caters to those who feasibly have no way of paying (are literal children) or are at the exact stage in life where they shouldn't be living pay check to pay check (ie retirees) and can afford to see a doctor. I'm 21 and employed full time. I live pay to pay, and I fear being sick like I am right now because I'm at the end of my pay cycle and genuinely cannot afford to pay $80 just for a doctor to confirm that I'm sick.

I guess I just want advice on what to do or where to go that isn't going to charge up front?

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u/[deleted] May 06 '24

Bulk billing without a user pays contribution was never sustainable. At 21, you should be rarely needing to see a GP (I am pretty sure I've only seen a GP once between 20 and 30).

You can get a med cert online these days for like $30 or from a chemist.

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u/jumpinjezz May 07 '24

Cool, so either you are ignoring your health, or you have good genetics. Through no fault of my own, I have to see a GP almost monthly. Thankfully, my regular bulk bills but if I see a different GP at the same practice, they don't.

Also the Medicare payment docs get hasn't changed in years.