Accessible and affordable healthcare? Views of Australians with and without chronic conditions. Issue 7 (24th June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zurynski, Yvonne; Ansell, James; Ellis, Louise A; Pomare, Chiara; Smith, Carolynn L; Holt, Joanna; Root, Jo; Gillespie, James; Wells, Leanne; Braithwaite, Jeffrey
• Is Part Of: Internal medicine journal. Volume 51:Issue 7(2021)
• Page Start: 1060
• Page End: 1067
• Publication Date: 2021-06-24
• Subjects: population health -- health services -- chronic disease -- affordability -- equity of access; Medicine -- Periodicals; 616
• DOI: 10.1111/imj.15172
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1444-0903

Abstract

Abstract: Background: With 50% of Australians having chronic disease, health consumer views are an important barometer of the 'health' of the healthcare system for system improvement and sustainability. Aims: To describe the views of Australian health consumers with and without chronic conditions when accessing healthcare. Methods: A survey of a representative sample of 1024 Australians aged over 18 years, distributed electronically and incorporating standardised questions and questions co‐designed with consumers. Results: Respondents were aged 18–88 years (432 males, 592 females) representing all states and territories, and rural and urban locations. General practices (84.6%), pharmacies (62.1%) and public hospitals (32.9%) were the most frequently accessed services. Most care was received through face‐to‐face consultations; only 16.5% of respondents accessed care via telehealth. The 605 (59.0%) respondents with chronic conditions were less likely to have private health insurance (50.3% vs 57.9%), more likely to skip doses of prescribed medicines (53.6% vs 28.6%), and miss appointments with doctors (15.3% vs 10.1%) or dentists (52.8% vs 40.4%) because of cost. Among 480 respondents without private health insurance, unaffordability (73.5%) or poor value for money (35.3%) were the most common reasons. Most respondents (87.7%) were confident that they would receive high quality and safe care. However, only 57% of people with chronic conditions were confident that they could afford needed healthcare compared with 71.3% without. Conclusions: Health consumers, especially those with chronic conditions, identified significant cost barriers to access of healthcare. Equitable access to healthcare must be at the centre of health reform.