One Nation says photo ID will help stop Medicare ‘rorts’. Here’s why that’s wrong
The Conversation Africa
Last updated: July 13, 2026
One Nation proposes implementing photo ID for Medicare cards as a measure to combat alleged fraud. They estimate this could save up to $3 billion annually. However, this assertion is contested, with arguments suggesting the proposed measure is unlikely to achieve the stated savings and may not effectively address the root causes of Medicare fraud.
- The core of One Nation's proposal rests on the belief that requiring photo identification will prevent individuals from fraudulently claiming Medicare benefits. This is framed as a direct solution to substantial financial losses the government incurs.
- Critics argue that existing Medicare systems already have safeguards in place to prevent most forms of fraud. They point out that many fraudulent activities are not perpetrated by individual patients but by providers, making photo ID for patients an ineffective deterrent.
- The focus on patient ID is seen as misplaced, as the majority of Medicare fraud stems from complex billing practices and fraudulent claims submitted by healthcare providers, not by individuals using incorrect cards.
- Furthermore, implementing a photo ID system would involve significant logistical challenges and costs, including the creation and distribution of new cards and the establishment of verification processes.
- These costs could potentially outweigh any savings achieved from preventing patient-level fraud, which is considered a minor component of the overall Medicare fraud issue.
- The argument against the proposal emphasizes that addressing systemic issues within provider billing and implementing more robust auditing mechanisms would be a more effective strategy for reducing Medicare fraud.
- Therefore, the claim that photo ID will stop billions in fraud is disputed due to the nature of Medicare fraud and the practical limitations of the proposed solution.
