While entertaining the Prime Minister of Australia and before and television cameras, President Donald Trump acknowledged that Health Care in Australia is superior to that of the United States. And we have little doubt that he meant was he said.
“Health care in Australia is provided by both private and government institutions. The federal Minister for Health, currently Greg Hunt, administers national health policy, and state and territory governments administer elements of health care within their jurisdictions, such as the operation of hospitals.
“Medicare, administered by the federal government, is the publicly funded universal health care system in Australia which was instituted in 1984. It coexists with a private health system. Medicare is funded partly by a 2% Medicare levy (with exceptions for low-income earners), with the balance being provided by government from general revenue. An additional levy of 1% is imposed on high-income earners without private health insurance. As well as Medicare, there is a separate Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme also funded by the federal government which considerably subsidises a range of prescription medications.
“The funding model for health care in Australia has seen political polarisation, with governments being crucial in shaping national health care policy.”
President Trump’s statement should come as little surprise to those who listened carefully to his comments during his early campaign for the Republican Primary.
The President exchanged his life time more centrist Democrat views to don the mantle of right wing Conservatism in order to win the primary. If someday Trump allows himself to revert to his own views, the right wing of the Republican Party may be in for a huge surprise.
Many of his core blue and gray collar supporters loathed the professorial style (and for many also color) of Barack Obama. If President Trump proposed reform, they likely would embrace an Australian health care model, especially if its funding would be progressive or, at least, neutral.
Along with better health care for the nation (our system is rated around 14th and virtually tied with Cuba), a result would be huge savings, perhaps 6% of Gross Nation Product that would over time enable the USA to restore its outdated, increasingly ‘Third World’ level infrastructure and reduce its National Debt..
