Is the Cost-of-Living Crisis Forcing Australians to Delay GP Visits?

A parent wakes with a tight chest but decides to “see how it goes” because the family has already spent the week’s spare money on groceries and petrol. A pensioner stretches a prescription for a few extra days. A casual worker cancels a GP appointment because the gap fee plus lost wages feels impossible this month.

These are not isolated choices. Recent consumer reporting found one in two Australians reportedly missed at least one type of necessary healthcare in the previous year because of barriers including cost. That broader figure includes prescriptions, tests, dental care and specialist appointments—not GP visits alone—but it captures the scale of the healthcare affordability problem now facing households.

The central question is simple: is Australia’s cost-of-living crisis forcing people to delay essential doctor and GP visits? The evidence says yes. Cost-related delays in GP care rose from 7% in 2022–23 to 8.8% in 2023–24. At the same time, Australians are also delaying medicines, diagnostics, dental care and specialist treatment.

However, the word “millions” should be used carefully. Percentages at a national level can represent very large numbers, but exact estimates depend on the survey population and methodology. What is clear is that Australia is facing a significant and worsening healthcare access problem.

How Healthcare Affordability Has Changed in Australia

Australia’s healthcare system is built around Medicare, which is designed to make essential care more affordable. In general practice, the most familiar affordability mechanism is bulk billing. This means the GP or clinic accepts the Medicare rebate as full payment, so the patient pays no direct fee at the appointment.

But Medicare coverage does not guarantee a free GP visit. If a clinic charges more than the Medicare rebate, the patient pays the difference. This is known as a gap fee. More broadly, an out-of-pocket cost is any direct payment a patient makes for healthcare, including GP gaps, medicines, tests, specialist fees, dental care, transport or lost income from time off work.

The problem has intensified because household expenses have risen at the same time as GP clinics have faced higher operating costs. Rent, wages, insurance, technology, administration and compliance costs all affect practice viability. Medical Journal of Australia commentary has framed the issue as pressure on both patients and clinics—not simply as individual consumers choosing to delay care.

That creates a difficult policy debate. Is the main problem higher consultation fees? A decline in bulk billing? Medicare rebates that have not kept pace with costs? Or broader household financial stress? In reality, all of these forces interact.

The trend data shows why concern is growing. In 2022–23, 7% of people delayed GP care because of cost. By 2023–24, that figure had risen to 8.8%. A Productivity Commission-related figure cited by SBS also reported the share delaying or missing appointments because of price doubling from 3.5% to 7% in 12 months. In New South Wales, reporting suggested GP postponements due to cost rose 246% over four years, and by 301% among lower-income people.

These figures come from different surveys, years and definitions, so they should not be treated as directly interchangeable. But together, they point in the same direction: affordability is becoming a larger barrier to primary care.

Visual: Cost-related GP delays are rising

Why this matters: delayed primary care can mean missed diagnoses, poorer chronic disease management, delayed mental-health support and more expensive treatment later. Australians also contributed 16.3% of total health spending through out-of-pocket costs in 2023–24, showing how exposed households remain to direct healthcare expenses.

The Latest Evidence: Are Australians Delaying GP Care?

The clearest GP-specific figure is that 8.8% of people delayed GP care because of cost in 2023–24, up from 7% in 2022–23. That increase matters because it suggests affordability barriers persisted despite growing policy and media attention.

The RACGP stated in September 2025 that “the trend in a growing number of people delaying access to GP care due to cost has continued in 2023–24.” The Consumers Health Forum also highlighted the rising proportion of people delaying or avoiding GP visits due to cost and linked this to ongoing cost-of-living pressure.

It is tempting to convert 8.8% into a precise national number. But that should be done cautiously. A reliable population estimate would require knowing the survey denominator, eligible population, methodology and whether the figure refers to all people or surveyed adults. A safer interpretation is that millions may be affected nationally across broader healthcare access, while the GP-specific figure clearly indicates a large population-level problem.

The problem also extends beyond the GP consultation itself. ABC reporting on a 2025 Consumers Health Forum survey found that one in two Australians missed at least one form of necessary healthcare in the previous year, with cost a leading barrier for prescriptions, tests and appointments. Prescription and dental costs were especially prominent.

That distinction is important. A person may manage to see a GP but then delay the blood test, imaging scan, specialist appointment or prescription that follows. In other words, healthcare affordability is a chain-of-care problem, not only a consultation-fee problem.

Who is most affected?

Lower-income households face the greatest risk because healthcare costs compete directly with rent, food, energy and transport. People with chronic illness are also heavily exposed because they need regular appointments, monitoring and medicines. Rural and regional Australians may face travel, accommodation and limited specialist access, with fewer affordable alternatives nearby.

Recent reporting also suggests the problem has broadened. The Guardian reported that even wealthier Australians have been avoiding GP visits as cost-of-living pressure affects healthcare access. That does not mean all groups are equally affected—disadvantage remains uneven—but it does show affordability stress is spreading beyond the lowest-income households.

Why Cost-of-Living Pressure Leads to Delayed Care

The most obvious barrier is the GP gap fee. A single out-of-pocket cost may appear modest on paper, but it becomes much harder to absorb when several family members need care, when follow-up appointments are required, or when the household is already managing higher rent, groceries, energy and transport costs.

Bulk billing remains central to the affordability debate because it removes the direct fee at the point of care. But availability is uneven. Some clinics bulk bill only children, pensioners or concession-card holders. Others may not accept new patients, or may have long waits for bulk-billed appointments.

There are also secondary costs. A GP visit may lead to prescription co-payments, pathology or imaging fees, specialist referral costs, transport expenses, or time away from work. Patients may anticipate these downstream costs and avoid starting the healthcare process at all.

This is especially risky for preventive care. People often delay routine check-ups, mental-health conversations, chronic disease reviews or early symptoms because they seem less urgent than immediate household bills. But small delays can accumulate. A postponed diabetes review, delayed blood pressure check or missed mental-health appointment can lead to more serious and costly problems later.

Structural barriers add another layer. Affordable GPs are not evenly distributed. Rural and regional areas may face workforce shortages and longer travel times. Specialist capacity can be limited. Telehealth helps in some circumstances, but it cannot replace all examinations, procedures or diagnostic assessments.

Consequences for Patients and the Health System

Not every delayed GP visit causes harm. Sometimes symptoms resolve, or the issue is minor. But repeated postponement increases the risk of deterioration.

For patients, delayed care can contribute to later diagnosis, worsening chronic disease, reduced medication adherence, avoidable complications and psychological distress. People who delay care because of money may also experience guilt, anxiety and fear about whether they are making the “right” decision.

For hospitals, delayed primary care can shift demand downstream. Patients who cannot access affordable GP care may present later to emergency departments, sometimes with more advanced problems. That can increase avoidable emergency presentations, lengthen waiting times and place more pressure on staff, beds and public budgets.

For GP clinics, the situation is also difficult. Clinics need sustainable revenue to pay staff, rent, technology and operating costs. But fee increases can worsen patient access. If patients skip follow-up appointments, clinics also lose opportunities to provide preventive care, monitor chronic illness and maintain continuity.

The equity impact is significant. Low-income households, people with disabilities, people with chronic disease, rural residents, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and patients needing regular medicines or specialist care may face overlapping barriers. When access depends too heavily on ability to pay, existing health disparities widen.

Visual: How delayed care shifts costs

Household financial stress
        ↓
Delayed GP appointment
        ↓
Delayed tests, prescriptions or referrals
        ↓
Worsening symptoms or missed diagnosis
        ↓
Emergency care, hospital treatment or higher long-term costs

Are Alternatives Making Care More Affordable?

Alternative models can help, but they do not solve every access problem. The right service depends on the patient’s symptoms, urgency and need for continuity.

Bulk billing remains the most important affordability tool for routine general practice. But policy has to balance affordable access for patients with financially viable clinics, especially in high-need and rural areas.

Urgent Care Clinics are designed for non-life-threatening acute problems that need prompt attention, such as some infections, minor injuries or urgent symptoms that are not emergencies. They may reduce emergency department pressure, but they are not designed to replace a regular GP relationship.

Telehealth can reduce travel and time costs, especially for follow-up care, medication reviews and some minor conditions. However, it is not suitable for every symptom and can exclude people without reliable internet, a private space, digital confidence or an appropriate device.

Government Responses and the Policy Debate

One of the clearest recent affordability measures is the reduction of the PBS maximum co-payment to $25 from 1 January 2026. This may help people who take regular medicines, families managing multiple prescriptions and patients who previously delayed filling scripts due to cost.

Earlier PBS safety-net changes were also expected by government to benefit more than 2.4 million people. Lower medicine costs can improve adherence and reduce household pressure, especially for people with chronic conditions.

But PBS cuts do not directly remove GP gap fees, specialist charges, diagnostic costs, dental expenses, travel costs or long waits for affordable appointments. That is why many experts argue healthcare affordability reform must cover the whole patient journey.

Current controversies include whether the main focus should be higher Medicare rebates, stronger bulk-billing incentives, clearer fee disclosure, targeted subsidies for concession groups, or broader universal affordability measures. There is also debate about whether urgent care and telehealth improve access or risk fragmenting care if they are not linked back to a patient’s regular GP.

How to Navigate Necessary Care When Money Is Tight

This guidance is not a substitute for medical advice, and it should not be used to delay urgent care. If symptoms are serious, seek emergency help.

1. Separate urgent symptoms from cost planning

Do not delay emergency treatment for symptoms such as severe chest pain, serious breathing difficulty, signs of stroke, severe bleeding, loss of consciousness or immediate danger. For non-emergency issues, contact a GP clinic, Healthdirect, a nurse-on-call service or another trusted health information service for guidance.

2. Ask about fees before booking

Before confirming an appointment, ask whether it is bulk billed, what the total out-of-pocket fee will be, whether concession or child rates apply, and whether longer appointments cost more. If possible, ask for written fee information so there are no surprises.

3. Prepare for the appointment

Bring a short list of symptoms, current medicines, previous test results, pending referrals and cost concerns. Ask the GP which tests or treatments are urgent and whether lower-cost or public options are available. Clinical need should guide decisions—not simply what is cheapest.

4. Choose the right service, not just the cheapest

A regular GP is usually best for ongoing conditions, chronic disease, medication management and complex symptoms. Urgent Care Clinics may suit non-life-threatening acute problems. Telehealth can work for selected follow-ups or minor issues. Emergency departments are for serious or potentially life-threatening symptoms.

5. Reduce downstream costs safely

Ask your prescriber or pharmacist about generic or equivalent medicines, PBS-listed options and whether the prescription can be supplied in a cost-effective way. From 1 January 2026, the PBS maximum co-payment reduction to $25 may reduce costs for eligible medicines. If a recommended specialist appointment, dental treatment or diagnostic test is unaffordable, ask whether a public pathway, payment plan or lower-cost provider is available.

Avoid stopping prescribed medication without clinical advice, using emergency departments for routine care solely because GP care is expensive, or assuming telehealth is appropriate for every symptom.

Challenges and Potential Solutions

The first challenge is inconsistent access to bulk billing. Patients may struggle to know the final fee before booking, and affordable clinics may have long waits or closed books. Clearer upfront fee disclosure, better public directories and stronger bulk-billing incentives in underserved areas could help.

The second challenge is GP workforce and clinic viability. Practices face real operating costs, and simply demanding lower fees does not solve sustainability. Potential solutions include sustainable Medicare rebates, support for multidisciplinary care and incentives for rural and high-need communities.

The third challenge is fragmented substitute care. Urgent Care Clinics and telehealth can treat immediate problems, but without shared records and follow-up pathways, care can become disconnected. Better communication with a patient’s regular GP would reduce duplication and improve continuity.

Finally, medication savings do not resolve diagnostic, dental or specialist affordability. Broader reform may require expanded public diagnostic services, stronger public specialist pathways, more accessible public dental programs and better hardship support.

Ethical Considerations: Reporting the Problem Responsibly

Healthcare affordability is an equity issue. Essential care should not depend excessively on household income, especially for people facing multiple barriers such as low income, chronic illness, disability or rural residence.

Statistics also need to be used carefully. The 8.8% figure refers to delayed GP care due to cost in 2023–24. The one-in-two figure refers to broader unmet healthcare needs, including prescriptions, tests, dental care and specialist appointments. They are related, but they do not measure the same thing.

Health communication should also avoid encouraging unsafe delay, medication rationing or self-diagnosis. The safest message is that patients should seek urgent help for serious symptoms, ask about costs early for non-emergency care, and make decisions about delaying tests or treatment with a clinician.

Recent Policy Relief: A Limited Success Story

The PBS co-payment reduction to $25 from 1 January 2026 is the clearest recent cost-relief measure in the available sources. It may benefit people taking regular medicines, households managing multiple prescriptions and patients who have previously delayed filling scripts.

Earlier PBS safety-net changes were expected to benefit more than 2.4 million people, according to government estimates. These are policy impact estimates rather than individual testimonials, but they show that medicine affordability is now a major focus of reform.

Still, cheaper medicines do not mean the broader access crisis is solved. A patient may be better able to afford prescriptions while still delaying a GP review, specialist appointment, dental visit or diagnostic test.

Helpful Tools, Services and Resources

Several resources can reduce barriers when used appropriately. Telehealth platforms may help with follow-ups, medication reviews, repeat advice and some minor illnesses. Urgent Care Clinics can provide care for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions and may reduce avoidable emergency department use.

Care-coordination systems, online records and referral tools can also help patients avoid repeating their history, reduce duplication and support chronic-disease management.

Useful reader-facing resources include:

• Medicare and bulk-billing information.
• PBS co-payment and safety-net information.
• Healthdirect symptom and service guidance.
• State and territory Urgent Care Clinic directories.
• Community health, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health services and public specialist service listings.

FAQ: Delaying GP Visits Because of Cost

Current Trends and Future Outlook

The affordability problem is expanding beyond GP consultations into medicines, dental treatment, diagnostic tests and specialist appointments. That suggests cost is affecting the full pathway from diagnosis to treatment.

Lower-income Australians remain most exposed, but reports that middle- and higher-income households are also delaying care suggest financial stress is becoming more widespread.

Near-term policy developments include lower PBS co-payments, expanded bulk-billing incentives, more Urgent Care Clinics and increased use of telehealth and coordinated care. These measures may help, but GP gap fees, specialist costs, workforce shortages and long waits will remain major barriers unless reform addresses the whole patient journey.

Conclusion: A Growing Access Problem, Not Just a Budget Problem

The evidence is clear: cost-related delays in GP care rose from 7% in 2022–23 to 8.8% in 2023–24. Broader consumer evidence shows Australians are also missing prescriptions, tests, dental care and specialist appointments because of affordability barriers.

So, is the cost-of-living crisis forcing Australians to delay essential healthcare? Yes. The scale is large enough to represent a national access crisis, though exact population estimates should be used carefully because different surveys measure different forms of delayed care.

Delayed care does not remove costs. It shifts them—from household budgets to poorer health, from GP clinics to emergency departments, and from early intervention to more expensive treatment later. The most effective response will require affordable, continuous and geographically accessible primary care, supported by cheaper medicines, clearer pricing, stronger public pathways and better care coordination.