Medicare snapshot for 2014-2015

EDS: Not for use before 0400 AEST Thursday, September 3

2014-15 ANNUAL MEDICARE SNAPSHOT

* Australia's population for 2014-15 is 23.95 million, up 19 per cent in 10 years.

* 21.32 million Medicare patients, a 21 per cent increase in the same period.

* 89 per cent of Australia's population are Medicare patients, up 2 per cent.

* 368,489,000 Medicare services in 2014-15, up from 236,316,000 10 years ago.

* Average 17.3 services per patient, compared with 13.4 in 2004-05.

* $20.188 billion in benefits paid, a 104 per cent increase in 10 years.

* $843 average benefit cost per patients, an increase of 72 per cent.