Registered Nurse with 25+ years experience in both Private...

Registered Nurse with 25+ years experience in both Private Hospitals and Public Hospitals including 16 years ICU, 2 years Ward Management, 1 year Hospital Management - nah, I don't think I could possibly give a qualified assessment of costs/risks.... So what is your "qualification" to comment?? (Ps. if you have the capacity to approach a Private insurer about projected costs for Ward/ICU stays be my guest - where do you think I got MY info from?)

As stated Private Insurance can and do refuse cover on high risk patients, forcing you back to the Public system. If you are "uncovered" by Medicare you will be charged for your stay, as foreign tourists find out (unless reciprocal rights had been negotiated), so no, Medicare is not FREE..

The thing about Australia is you cannot "opt out" of Medicare if you are a resident, as it is processed before you see any of your money in your account from your employer. Likewise with some of the Govt benefits they are already clamping down for non-attendance of Centerlink meetings, so not a huge step to deny benefits. The Govt could use existing channels to organise some sort of "Child support" style payment to be taken out of your pay before you see it, as happens with separated/divorced couples with kids (speak to some friends that have gone through this to see how hard it is to get out of). The mechanisms are there, all that is needed is the Govt to set the mandate.