Medicare: The making and consolidation of an Australian institution

Abstract

Medicare, the foundation of Australia’s universal healthcare system, has been in place for nearly 35 years. It has hardly changed during that time. Medicare’s main objective was to ensure all citizens had access to affordable basic health care. Its core features came on line fairly quickly. Universal entitlement to subsidies for medical services came into effect from 1 February 1984 after the Hawke Government passed legislation to establish a medical benefits scheme. Free treatment in public hospitals was also guaranteed because the Commonwealth had already successfully negotiated funding agreements with the states and territories.