I don't really know how the public system would cope if both public and private hospital systems were amalgamated. There are so many stories of excessive waiting lists for the public system, that I cannot see how that would change. I don't think the private system doctors and nurses are sitting around drinking lattes waiting for their next customer.
However, what gets up my nose is people like an acquaintance of mine, who is fully covered for private care, but makes sure she uses the public system, clogging up the system, and paying zippo.
We all know that even with full health insurance, there are gap fees and private health insurance cover only covers a (usually large) portion, but the gap still leaves a hole in our pockets. With having had three babies through the private system and a family of five, I would not be game to ditch private health cover, specially if one of us had to wait a year or two for a procedure that could be done next week through the private system.
The other thing that gets up my nose is that this same friend whinges about how my family of five get private health cover for double what she pays as a single. Yet she has used more health services on just herself than my family has used in our whole lives. But she thinks life is unfair.
I wonder if she ever thinks about the poor old pensioner who has to wait yet another week for a hip replacement because she (with full private health cover) is taking up that person's rightful place in a bed???? She even hit up a local pollie to get her a lift to the hospital!! I bet she didn't mention she has full private cover.
Same person complains about everything, so I should not really be surprised. Also doesn't like paying for a whole room when she travels. I try to tell her to try having to book two rooms to fit a family in.
Truth is, we don't live on a level playing field, and life is all "swings and roundabouts". Sometimes you win, and sometimes you lose.
