Is the Australian Model the Answer? (healthcare, regular, lobbyists, lobby)

[Amaznjohn]

Someone posted this in another thread. What is your take on it.

I'm a resident of Australia but live in the States.
I go back regularly and always visit doctors, load up on free Viagra ( )
and anything else I can think of, and then head back.

There are a lot of medications you can't get here in the states that I love so I grab them too. Sometime I have to pay a $5 co-pay at the pharmacy.

I belong to Medicare Australia which costs all workers about 1.5% of their weekly pay, for that they get almost free doctors and hospital.
Think last time I made a co pay of $20 but many doctors are free.

If I had a serious illness or needed surgery I would simply fly to Sydney and have it done immediately. There is no waiting for the most part.

I do not believe the States could have this unless the government subsidised medicine, placed restrictions on the AMA and got rid of the Lobbyists.

[Amaznjohn]

To me this sounds reasonable, at first glance, but I believe the poster was a bit disingenuous. After doing some research into the Australian Healthcare System I found that those who do not live in Australia cannot receive healthcare coverage.

Medicare Australia - :: Eligibility and enrolment::

Also, I found that the posters claims are true about almost free doctors and hospitals, but they must meet a deductible AND they must go to government doctors and hospitals. Personally, I would rather go to a private doctor or hospital who get paid more for their services than to be treated by a discount doctor or hospital.