The latest Australian Healthcare Index has found that Australians are feeling more positive about healthcare, but rising costs are still a major concern. The index, which surveyed 6,244 Australian adults, found that overall satisfaction with the healthcare system was at 7.4 out of 10, the highest level since 2021.
This increase in satisfaction is largely due to improved access to GP bulk billing, with over two-thirds of Australians bulk billed at their most recent GP visit.
According to the AHI report, among respondents who gave Australian healthcare a rating of 8 to 10, 45% identified the availability of bulk-billing as the primary driver of their satisfaction. Other factors also contributed: 40% pointed to the overall quality of care, 34% highlighted positive personal experiences, 32% believed the system outperformed those in other countries, and another 32% valued the ease of accessing services.
Concerns About Affordability
Despite the increase in satisfaction, affordability concerns remain a major issue. Emergency department waiting times, out-of-pocket costs, and private health insurance value for money are among the top concerns for Australians. The report found that 36% of respondents cited emergency department waiting times as their biggest healthcare concern.
Workforce shortages were also flagged, with 25% of participants naming a lack of staff as a concern, while 21% specifically mentioned out-of-pocket costs for GP visits as a barrier to care. Private health insurance value for money remained an issue for 26% of respondents.
Out-of-pocket specialist costs were a significant concern, with 33% of respondents citing them as a major issue. Private health insurance received a net promoter score of -13, with high out-of-pocket costs and increasing premiums being major reasons why people are not willing to recommend their insurance.
The negative net promoter score of –13 reflected deeper dissatisfaction: 66% of those unwilling to recommend their policy cited high out-of-pocket expenses, 62% were put off by rising premiums, 58% found the price of insurance unaffordable, and 57% felt they received poor value for money.
Impact of Cost-of-Living Pressures
The report found that cost-of-living pressures are having a significant impact on healthcare decisions. More than 70% of respondents said that increases in the cost of living were shaping their healthcare decisions, with half of those affected having missed or delayed dental care, 43% having missed or delayed a specialist visit, and 39% having missed or delayed a GP appointment due to cost.
Younger people are particularly affected, with 35% of those aged 18-34 and 41% of those aged 35-54 going to the GP less often due to cost concerns. Some people are even going without food to afford GP care, with 6% of those aged 18-34 and 6% of those aged 35-54 doing so.
The Role of AI in Healthcare
The report also found that many Australians are turning to AI tools for health information, with 36% of respondents having used or interacted with AI tools over the past 12 months. While many people see value in the technology, there are concerns about AI making mistakes and providing inaccurate advice.
Although 43% judged the advice useful and accurate, more than half expressed worry that AI could make mistakes, showing the need for careful integration.
Healthengine CEO Dan Stinton warned that AI adoption could create challenges, as those under financial pressure might rely more heavily on AI instead of a trusted clinician. Patients Australia CEO Lisa Robins said that cost is still forcing too many people to skip appointments, medication, and other essentials, which can have long-term consequences for the healthcare system.
Robins warned that postponing care inflates long-term system costs, noting that early treatment is both clinically effective and cheaper, whereas delays tend to worsen health outcomes and increase overall spending.
Mr Stinton and Ms Robins emphasized that the healthcare system has many strong attributes.
