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Motivation & Insight into Medicine 11
'It is inappropriate for Medicare funds to contribute towards private health procedures'. Outline the advantages and disadvantages of such a policy.
Average Candidate Response
I agree with this statement as with Medicare funds being limited, they should be prioritised for high priority conditions and presentations, rather than potentially routine healthcare for individuals with additional private health cover.
Excellent Candidate Response
On one hand, there are many services not covered by Medicare – and are thus only accessed via private healthcare - that could benefit from increased funding; key examples include ambulance and emergency services. Should these services receive funds from Medicare, there would be benefits such as reduced ambulance waiting times, and thus decreased mortality in cases of severe trauma or injury. Furthermore, many patients who use private healthcare require it for chronic health conditions – for example, occupational therapy for physical disabilities - and otherwise would not receive the appropriate treatment, meaning that over time the cost of healthcare accumulates significantly. Therefore, financial aid from Medicare would benefit these patients in particular, and allow them to access long term treatment without worrying about the financial costs.
However, it must be argued that many services accessed via private health insurance are not as consequential as those mentioned above. Acupuncture and cosmetic surgery are case in points of services that may not be of the same importance as other treatments under private healthcare, therefore one could argue that it would be inappropriate to use Medicare funds for such procedures. In addition to this, using Medicare funds for private health procedures may result in reduced funding for the existing services covered by it. Surgical procedures that are covered by this policy, for example, may suffer as a result of this, possibly resulting in longer waiting times for surgical operations and thus increased mortality.
I agree with this statement as with Medicare funds being limited, they should be prioritised for high priority conditions and presentations, rather than potentially routine healthcare for individuals with additional private health cover.
Excellent Candidate Response
On one hand, there are many services not covered by Medicare – and are thus only accessed via private healthcare - that could benefit from increased funding; key examples include ambulance and emergency services. Should these services receive funds from Medicare, there would be benefits such as reduced ambulance waiting times, and thus decreased mortality in cases of severe trauma or injury. Furthermore, many patients who use private healthcare require it for chronic health conditions – for example, occupational therapy for physical disabilities - and otherwise would not receive the appropriate treatment, meaning that over time the cost of healthcare accumulates significantly. Therefore, financial aid from Medicare would benefit these patients in particular, and allow them to access long term treatment without worrying about the financial costs.
However, it must be argued that many services accessed via private health insurance are not as consequential as those mentioned above. Acupuncture and cosmetic surgery are case in points of services that may not be of the same importance as other treatments under private healthcare, therefore one could argue that it would be inappropriate to use Medicare funds for such procedures. In addition to this, using Medicare funds for private health procedures may result in reduced funding for the existing services covered by it. Surgical procedures that are covered by this policy, for example, may suffer as a result of this, possibly resulting in longer waiting times for surgical operations and thus increased mortality.