What is Healthcare in Australia?
'''[[Healthcare]] in [[Australia]]''' is partly public and partly private. Most of the cost is met by the [[Australian Medicare]] system, which is a national [[Single-payer health care|single-payer funding]] model. The [[state and territory governments]] run public hospitals where people can get care free of charge. [[Primary care|Primary health]] services, such as GP clinics, are mostly privately owned but attract Medicare pays part of the cost. Australian [[Citizenship|citizens]], people who live in Australia, and some visitors and [[Visa|visa holders]] can get health services under the Medicare system. People can get [[health insurance]] to cover services offered in the [[private sector]]. The government pays about 25% of the cost. Private insurers have to charge people the same without taking into account any existing or previous conditions. Doctors are paid for seeing and treating people, and people can choose where they are treated. The [[federal Minister for Health]] sets national health policy. State and territory governments regulate and administer doctors, public hospitals and [[Ambulance|ambulance service]]<nowiki/>s. One third of hospital places are run privately. In 2017–18, total health spending was $185.4 billion, about $7,485 per person. Most of the money went on hospitals (40%) and primary health care (34%). Health spending was about 10% of overall [[Economy|economic activity]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-09-25|title=Health expenditure Australia 2017–18, Data visualisation|url=https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/health-welfare-expenditure/health-expenditure-australia-2017-18/contents/data-visualisation|access-date=2023-08-08|website=Australian Institute of Health and Welfare|language=en-AU}}</ref> In 2020–21 it was $220.9 billion, 7.1% more than in 2019–20. 70% was paid by the government. Health spending as a proportion of [[Gross domestic product|GDP]] was 11th highest of [[OECD]] countries in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-05-23|title=Health expenditure|url=https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports