That’s around 1.9 million people a year, with nearly half of them—close to one million—citing cost as the primary barrier.

The Medicare logo is seen in Sydney, Australia, on May 23, 2016. Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

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Australians face a tough choice: pay hundreds out of pocket or face long, sometimes dangerous delays for specialist care.
A Grattan Institute report warns the current health system is struggling with soaring costs and workforce shortages.

Naziya Alvi Rahman is a Canberra-based journalist who covers political issues in Australia. She can be reached at [email protected].