The Australian Medical Association (AMA) has hailed Labor's plan to provide free health care for elderly Australians as an exciting proposal.
Launching the ALP's election campaign, leader Mark Latham pledged universal access for people over 75 to the public and private health sectors.
He says this would lower the cost of private health insurance by at least 12 per cent.
But AMA vice-president Dr Mukesh Haikerwal says he wants to see the policy fine print to ensure the public health system can cope.
"Removing the need for older folk to be in the private health care pool means those left in the health care pool won't be having to pay for that large number of people with a large number of problems," he said.
"However, the actual cost to us as a taxpayer for looking after the larger pool will increase."
