Health isn’t a luxury, but for many concession card holders, it can feel like one. When every dollar is spoken for, even the basics can start to feel out of reach.
So what does that look like in real life? In this article, we look at the cost of care on a concession budget, the day-to-day trade-offs people are making and why a patient-first approach to healthcare access matters more than ever.
Managing health on a budget
Living on a concession card doesn’t make your health needs greater, it just changes the way you experience the system.
Having to choose between all the groceries you need for the week and high cost health care isn’t a choice people make.
Every appointment, every script, every bit of support comes with a decision, ‘can I manage this?’
For some this can look like:
- Finding a bulk-billed appointment a bit further away from home
- Deciding whether to book the physio or refill the meds
- Waiting a few weeks longer than planned because of costs
- Calling three places to get an appointment that works for your budget and schedule
- Choosing between social activities and inconvenient healthcare appointments
And when life costs more, health often becomes the thing that gets delayed, even when it's the thing you’d rather prioritise.
Care that puts patients first
These survey responses don’t point to a crisis. They point to a quiet truth:
In a recent Alternaleaf survey (Source:A), 49% of people with a concession card said their healthcare spending is ‘absolutely necessary’. Not a nice-to-have. Not a splurge. Just part of staying afloat.
And when nearly half of concession card holders say their health spending is non-negotiable, that’s worth paying attention to. Not because they need more, but because their experience often demands more navigating.
It’s a reminder of why a patient-first approach to healthcare access matters more than ever. Because when care fits real life, it becomes easier to stay connected to what matters.
What can you do to save on healthcare costs?
Concession card holders are far more likely to view health spending as essential and it’s not hard to see why. When you’re managing ongoing health needs or ageing with care, putting things off isn’t always an option. You know what makes a difference and what it costs when that care is out of reach.
That’s why accessible services matter. Telehealth, bulk billing and fewer hoops to jump through aren’t just conveniences, they’re what keep people connected to care when the system doesn’t make it easy.
Source
A: Alternaleaf survey with n=300 people Date Nov 2024
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