After being the sole carer of my late wife for 15 years I thought I had seen it all. I was very mistaken.

I have been in private health insurance for 51 years. I have never used it personally during this time, so imagine my surprise when I checked my insurance to find my minor complaint was covered, only to then find that it was nothing short of a load of codswallop.

This minor operation Medicare rebate was 45 per cent of the quote, my insurer paid 25 per cent above the rebate, and I was slugged 30 per cent out of pocket.

In fact for the rebate to match the cost, it would have had to have been increased 125 per cent.

To suggest that the private health industry is in crisis at the moment is an understatement, with thousands fleeing this sector before they are totally fleeced of all savings.

Medicare has become Mediscare, where it is a case of not how much you get back, but can you afford the difference. This system is about to implode, but scant regard for this perilous situation is given by politicians.

It is about time that dodgy schemes costing billions were no longer tolerated, with these funds used in correcting a severe anomaly that is affecting millions of Australians.

What is so difficult or illogical about that?

Australians should not tolerate this anymore, it is outrageous.

Read more about health: Five year wait for ear nose and throat specialists in Bendigo

As we all head to the voting booths this weekend, it seems the biggest issue in this country has been forgotten.

I agree that climate change and housing affordability is important, but it is difficult to improve the environment and put a deposit on a house without a roof over your head.

The homelessness rates have increased 13.7 per cent over the last five years and this is only based on the population that did complete the Census in 2016.

Homelessness has a direct impact on the individual and an extra burden on their family as well as the flow on effect to mental health, financial stress, employment or education opportunities not to mention trying to live a normal life.

We need to ask ourselves:

Are we doing enough to reduce homelessness? Or are we ignorant? Or are we just accepting that it's a part of the Australian way?

As a minimum I believe that the Government needs to at least consider the statistics and have a plan of action to reduce homelessness in the future.

Read more: Winter night shelter homelessness help aims 'admirable', Haven; Home, Safe says

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