One out of 10 Australians has been forced into debt for medical expenses, according to a new survey.
The numbers come from insurance comparison company Compare The Market, which found 12% of Australians have had medical debt.
It was overwhelmingly linked to specialist treatments and consultations, which accounted for 36% of the respondents' debt.
Close behind at 30% was medically necessary but elective surgery and dental work at 29%.
While some elective surgeries are covered by Medicare, waiting lists can see patients delay the procedure for years or bear the expenses out of pocket.
Medicare does not cover dental care.
Other reasons for debt include cosmetic procedures, physiotherapy, emergency surgery, expensive prescriptions and mental health care.
Half of respondents with existing medical debt reported it at $10,000 or less, and only 2% said they had medical debt exceeding $100,000.
However, a further 28% of Australians responded that they would not be willing to put themselves into debt for a medical-related expense at all.
The company's Executive General Manager of Health, Steven Spicer, encouraged Australians to look into private health insurance options to alleviate the cost of some procedures.
“It’s interesting to note that health insurance can pay a benefit towards many of the different causes of medical debt that impact over one-in-ten Australians. However, if you are new to health insurance or upgrading your policy, you will likely have to undergo a waiting period before making a claim,” said Spicer.
“There’s a range of benefits to private health insurance, and it gives customers greater choice over their healthcare than if they relied solely on Australia’s public system.”
