Macular Disease Foundation Australia calls on the next Federal Government to bulk-bill sight-saving eye injections for pensioners; with the potential for creating a $140 million cost-saving per year.
New research from Macular Disease Foundation Australia (MDFA), in collaboration with the University of New South Wales, has revealed the median total cost for people living with macular disease who also receive sight-saving eye injections is 12 percent* ($3,621) of the annual government pension payment.
Close to 1,500 Australians with macular disease – Australia’s leading cause of blindness – completed MDFA’s comprehensive survey, which also found that for almost 1 in 10 Australians who receive eye injections the cost of living with their condition is more than $6,000 every year. This is around 20 percent* of the annual government pension payment.
These costs – which include eye specialist appointments, eye injection treatments and vision aids – are leaving pensioners with less money in their bank accounts for rent, bills, food and other essential life expenses. If people with certain macular diseases cannot afford to receive eye injection treatments, they will lose their vision.
Treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is usually frequent (typically every four to six weeks) and lifelong. In 2022, there were 62,000 people with neovascular AMD who were having eye injections. 1 Treatment persistence is a significant problem in Australia, with approximately 50 percent of people discontinuing treatment within five years of starting eye injections.2 The main reason for this is cost burden.
To provide financial relief for pension card holders, the most financially vulnerable Australians, MDFA is calling on the Federal Government to introduce a Neovascular AMD Treatment Incentive Program.The aim of the program is toencourage ophthalmologists to bulk bill pension card holders having eye injections for neovascular AMD, and support those most at risk of stopping treatment due to burden of cost.
The total annual economic cost of vision loss in Australia is estimated to be $16.6 billion or $29,000 per person with vision loss aged over 40.3 By targeting the most financially vulnerable people who need sight-saving treatment and encouraging more bulk billing, MDFA believes a Neovascular AMD Treatment Incentive Program would cost the government an estimated $11.1 million a year and ultimately save government $140 million annually.
MDFA’s research also showed the median total annual cost for people living in regional and remote areas is more than $400 higher per person compared with people in major cities ($2,658 vs $2,254). The highest cost was more than $1,700 more per year for people living remotely compared with people living in a metropolitan area ($8,911 vs $7,127). Considering that most ophthalmologists work in metropolitan areas, access to treatment is a major challenge for people living in regional and remote areas.
CEO of Macular Disease Foundation Australia, Dr Kathy Chapman, says these findings highlight a critical problem given MDFA research consistently identifies cost and access as the two main reasons people delay or stop treatment.
“There are an estimated 1.9 million people in Australia who live with a macular disease. In 2023, more than 108,000 peopleǂ with a treatable macular disease including neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic macular oedema, and retinal vein occlusion, received eye injection treatment,” said Dr Chapman.
“Eye injections are primarily delivered in private ophthalmology clinics in Australia, with only around 20 percent of them offering bulk billing,4 meaning that more than 72,000 peopleǂ having eye injections have no choice but to pay expensive out-of-pocket costs to receive their treatment to keep their sight.
“Our research underscores the immense financial pressure that these high costs would have on people living with macular disease who rely on their pension payments to get by. Even when the country is not in a cost-of-living crisis, accessing affordable or bulk-billed treatment is an insurmountable problem for too many low-income earners, pensioners, and self-funded retirees.
“We welcome both major parties’ recent commitments to further strengthening bulk-billing incentives in general practice, which will see greater numbers of people saving money when visiting their GP. As people with neovascular AMD require frequent and ongoing eye injections, sometimes up to monthly, it is vital the Government extends bulk billing to older Australians who require sight-saving injections.”
MDFA’s full recommendations can be found in its Federal Election Agenda, Fight for Sight, available here.
Download
Download
More information
About Macular Disease Foundation Australia
Macular Disease Foundation Australia is the independent national peak body fighting for the sight of the macular disease community. Our purpose is to reduce the impact of macular disease.
We work with the community and the health system to promote early detection, reduce progressive vision loss and to save sight. We provide a range of free, tailored resources and support services to help people live optimally with macular disease. Our advocacy work amplifies the voice of our community to influence and collaborate for positive outcomes. We invest in vital research, working towards better management, treatments, and cures. Our work is supported by the generosity of the Australian community.
About macular disease
Macular disease covers a range of conditions that affect the central retina (the macula) at the back of the eye. People with macular disease progressively lose their detailed central vision, and ability to recognise faces, read, drive and undertake many aspects of daily life. The most common conditions are age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and diabetic retinopathy, including diabetic macular oedema.
One in seven (approximately 1.5 million) Australians over the age of 50 have some evidence of AMD.
Diabetic eye disease affects between 300,000 and 400,000 Australians – the leading cause of preventable blindness among the working-age population.
References
* Calculation based on Services Australia information, the current total maximum fortnightly pension for a single person is: $1,144.40. Total annual pension: $1,144.40 X 26 = $29,754.40 and $3,621/$29,754.40 = 12%)] https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/how-much-age-pension-you-can-get?context=22526
1 The Hon. Mark Butler MP (2023, January 1). Media release – Cheaper medicines from today. Accessed at: www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/cheaper-medicines-from-today?language=en
2 Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee – Drug Utilisation Sub Committee (2018). Ranibizumab and Aflibercept: Analysis of Use for AMD, DMO, BRVO and CRVO. Accessed at https://www.pbs.gov.au/pbs/industry/listing/participants/public-release-docs/2018-05/ranibizumab_and_aflibercept__analysis_of_use_for_amd%2C_dmo%2C_b
3 Deloitte Access Economics and Vision 2020 Australia (2010). Clear Focus – The Economic Impact of Vision Loss in Australia in 2009. Accessed at https://www.vision2020australia.org.au/resources/clear-focus-the-economic-impact-of-vision-loss-in-australia-in-2009/.
4 Macular Disease Foundation Australia, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists and PwC Australia. (2019). Impact of IVI rebate changes. ǂ Services Australia data on Medicare services delivered between 01/01/2022 to 31/12/2023 and processed up to 17 February 2025.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Natasha Rontziokos | Buzz Group |
E: natasha@buzzgroup.com.au | M: +61 421 272 390
Lucy Dobson | Buzz Group |
E: lucy@buzzgroup.com.au | M: +61 478 248 554
The information provided in this release is provided by Macular Disease Foundation Australia located at Mezzanine Level, 383 Kent Street Sydney NSW 2000.
Posted: 4 March 2025
Opinion Editorial: Sight preservation should be a national priority
By The Hon. Jillian Skinner, AM, former NSW Minister for Health. This article was originally published by News Corp.
