If you’ve ever put off booking a dentist appointment because you couldn’t justify the cost, or told yourself that nagging back pain would “sort itself out” instead of calling the physio, you’re far from alone. New research shows that four in five Australian women are rethinking how they look after their health because of financial pressures — and experts are warning the knock-on effects could be more serious than we realise.
According to the latest Australian Healthcare Index Report — a national survey of more than 8,000 people conducted by Patients Australia and Healthengine — three in four Australians say rising costs have forced them to make different decisions about their healthcare. But when it comes to who’s most affected, women are bearing the brunt.
The cost-of-living crisis is changing how women care for themselves
Money worries are seeping into every corner of women’s health decisions. The report found that 80% of women have changed how they approach healthcare due to financial stress — compared with 72% of men. And it’s not just the odd check-up being skipped. Across almost every area, women are more likely to delay or cancel appointments.
Sixty-two per cent are putting off dental visits, almost half are postponing physio or chiropractic sessions, and more than a third are delaying diagnostic tests like blood work or scans. Worryingly, one in three are also holding off on seeking mental health support — which can have a huge impact on wellbeing in the long run.
“It’s simply not acceptable that people are delaying treatment or even dipping into their superannuation early just to afford healthcare,” says Lisa Robins, CEO of Patients Australia. “For young people especially, this creates devastating long-term consequences.”
Young women are feeling the pinch most
The report also reveals a growing generational gap. Young Australians are feeling the squeeze hardest, with 86% of those under 35 saying they’ve had to alter their healthcare decisions because of cost. That’s a huge leap compared with just 52% of older Australians.
With bills and rent rising, many are getting creative — and not always in ideal ways — when it comes to paying for care. Nearly half have turned to buy now, pay later services to cover medical expenses, while almost a quarter are using medical payment plans. Perhaps most concerning, almost one in ten have even tapped into their superannuation long before retirement.
These quick fixes might offer short-term relief, but they’re a sign of a system under strain — and they could leave young people, especially women, facing bigger health and financial challenges later on.
A growing divide in access to care
The findings suggest that access to healthcare in Australia is starting to reflect income inequality. “Those with the means receive some of the best care in the world, while those on low incomes — typically women and young adults — are falling behind,” says Dan Stinton, CEO of Healthengine. “It calls into question the very foundations of our universal healthcare system.”
And it’s not just about who can afford to see a specialist. More than one in three Australians have now skipped or cut back on their prescription medications because of cost, even after government efforts to make medicines more affordable. As more people turn to emergency departments for conditions they could have treated earlier, elective surgery wait times are also increasing.
Why this matters … and what needs to change
On the surface, delaying a dentist visit or stretching out the time between GP check-ups might not seem like a big deal. But experts warn that small decisions like these can snowball into bigger problems — from worsening chronic conditions to preventable complications that become harder (and more expensive) to treat later on.
And it’s not just physical health at risk. With one in three women putting off mental health support because they can’t afford it, there’s a real risk of untreated anxiety, depression and other conditions that can seriously impact quality of life.
Despite the challenges, there’s one glimmer of good news: overall satisfaction with Australia’s healthcare system has actually improved slightly, rising to 7.2 out of 10 this year — the first uptick since 2021. But the message from experts is clear: if we don’t tackle the financial barriers standing between women and the care they need, we risk creating deeper inequalities and putting an entire generation’s health on the line.
Because when women are forced to choose between paying the bills and prioritising their wellbeing, the cost isn’t just personal — it’s something we’ll all end up paying for.
