I am one of many Australians who struggle daily to afford necessary medical procedures, despite being eligible for Medicare and Centrelink payments. It's a harsh reality faced by hundreds of Canberrans who, like me, must prioritize their day-to-day expenses over seeking the medical attention they require.

In Australia, the year 2018-19 saw nearly 14 million GP services bulk billed for pensioners and concession card holders, a significant portion of them requiring imaging services like X-ray, ultrasound, CT scans and MRIs (source: Australian Government, Department of Health). Yet, despite this demand and the evident need, these vital services continue to be out of reach for people on Centrelink payments in many states.

Unlike our fellow Australians in other regions, we often decide against these medical procedures, leading to inadequate healthcare and dependence on charitable organisations - a dire consequence we pay for not being offered the same privileges.

Hence, we urge the Australian Government to address this disparity and ensure that Medicare patients and Centrelink recipients, particularly the disabled pensioners, can access bulk billed imaging services across all states. This would bring equality to healthcare access, reduce reliance on charitable institutions, and most importantly, improve our overall health and well-being.

Please sign this petition to bring about this critical change in our healthcare system.