One million Australians missing specialist doctor appointments due to cost, report finds

Grattan Institute finds one in 10 Australians now paying $600 a year for specialist appointments

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One in 10 Australians pay almost $600 each year to see specialist doctors, with 1 million delaying or skipping appointments due to the cost, according to new analysis.

A report by the Grattan Institute, released on Monday, revealed outpatient fees have soared over the past 15 years. The average initial out-of-pocket psychiatrist fee was $671 in 2023, with some extreme fee" specialists charging more than triple the scheduled Medicare fee. It found almost 2 million Australians are delaying or skipping specialist appointments each year - about half due to cost - adding pressure to the country's hospital systems.

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