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

Grattan Institute report found one in 10 low-income patients, with weekly household incomes of less than $500 a week, were billed almost $500 a year in out-of-pocket costs. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP

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.