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Lived experience of out-of-pocket costs of health care and medicines by people with chronic conditions and their families in Australia: a systematic review of the qualitative literature - P4H Network

Lived experience of out-of-pocket costs of health care and medicines by people with chronic conditions and their families in Australia: a systematic review of the qualitative literature

Despite Australia’s Medicare, out-of-pocket costs (OOPC) still make up 14% of total health expenditure. This systematic review examined the experiences of Australians with chronic conditions facing OOPC for out-of-hospital care, revealing income loss due to ill health, difficulties affording copayments and medications, and significant barriers to dental care, especially for those earning too much to qualify for government support. While current policies help reduce financial burdens for many, distinct challenges remain for those ineligible for concessional thresholds, highlighting the need for further research to guide more equitable health financing reforms.

Reference
Jane Desborough, Charles Maskell-Knight, Shelley Wang, Anne Parkinson, Danielle Butler, Hsei-Di Law, Kamania Butler , Leanne Watts, Elisabeth Huynh, Fiona Hodson , Samar Ibrahim, Julie Veitch, Jillian Kingsford-Smith, Michael Kidd, Cam Donaldson, Lived experience of out-of-pocket costs of health care and medicines by people with chronic conditions and their families in Australia: a systematic review of the qualitative literature, Health policy, 25 Aug 2025