A growing number of Australians are delaying medical treatment because of rising costs and access difficulties, raising fresh questions about healthcare affordability under the Albanese government.
New figures show around one in five Australians have postponed medical care due to financial or access barriers, despite Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s promise that people would only need their Medicare card, not their credit card, to receive healthcare.
The latest data shows 21 percent of Australians delayed treatment, while another 24 percent said they managed to receive care but struggled to afford the costs involved.
Only 55 percent of respondents said they had consistently been able to access the affordable healthcare they needed.
The figures represent a decline from earlier surveys, with the number of Australians reporting reliable access to affordable care falling in recent months.
The issue comes after Labor made healthcare affordability a key election promise, including an $8.5 billion package aimed at improving bulk billing rates across Australia.
Prime Minister Albanese said the government’s goal was to ensure Australians could access medical services using their Medicare card rather than relying on their ability to pay upfront costs.
However, the latest figures suggest many households continue to face financial pressure when seeking healthcare.
The impact appears strongest among lower-income Australians, with only 35 percent of working-class respondents saying they had always been able to access affordable medical care.
A third of working-class Australians said they or a family member had delayed treatment, while another 32 percent reported struggling to pay medical expenses.
Healthcare data also shows bulk billing remains a challenge, with many clinics still charging out-of-pocket fees. Average patient costs at non-bulk-billing clinics have increased, adding further pressure on families.
The government says it is working to expand bulk billing and improve access to affordable care, but critics argue more action is needed to ensure Australians are not forced to delay essential medical treatment because of cost.
