New research has found people are delaying essential medical treatment because of the cost of owning a home.
Queenslanders are being forced to choose between paying the mortgage and seeing a doctor, with some homeowners delaying essential medical treatment like surgery and putting $100,000 on their home loans for healthcare.
New research reveals nearly half of homeowners in the Sunshine State have put off getting medical help in the past five years due to mortgage pressures, while others are dipping into their home loans to pay for everything from dental work to lifesaving care.
New research shows people are delaying or skipping medical treatment due to the cost of having a mortgage. Picture: iStock.
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Of those who delayed treatment, the findings from Money.com.au show 61 per cent skipped or postponed dental appointments, 23 per cent put off specialist visits, and 12 per cent delayed mental health care. Alarmingly, 4 per cent said they had deferred surgery or other medical procedures altogether.
The trend comes as Queensland households spend around $4,284 a year on healthcare — above the national average — at a time when mortgage repayments are eating up a growing share of income.
With the average Queensland income sitting at $103,714, healthcare costs account for about 4.1 per cent of earnings.
Debbie Hays, Money.com.au mortgage expert. Picture: Supplied
Money.com.au mortgage expert Debbie Hays said Queenslanders were now spending the equivalent of 9 per cent of their average annual mortgage repayments on healthcare.
“Skyrocketing house prices in Queensland, particularly in near-metro areas, are also putting added pressure on households,” Ms Hays said. “As more income goes towards housing, there’s less flexibility in the budget to absorb healthcare costs.”
Ms Hays said more borrowers were turning to their home loans to fund treatment — effectively paying interest on their healthcare over time.
“Anecdotally, we’re hearing stories about borrowers in Queensland dipping into their offsets or redrawing to cover routine healthcare like skin checks, screenings and other preventative care,” she said.
A new survey has found people are delaying going to the doctor because of the pressure of paying off a mortgage.
She said some cases were becoming increasingly confronting.
“I had a client ask to increase their home loan by $60,000 for medically necessary dental implants and restoration after chemotherapy. In another case, a borrower with Motor Neurone Disease increased their loan by $100,000 to help cover the treatment costs.
“We’re also seeing this trend of people increasing their loan balance to get medical care overseas, where costs can be as little as half those in Australia.”
Beyond the immediate hit to household budgets, experts warn there is a longer-term consequence — with healthcare costs also reducing borrowing capacity.
People are seen walking past the Medibank store on George Street in Sydney as private health insurance policy prices were increased this week, adding extra financial pressure to houses-holds across Australia. Picture: Gaye Gerard.
Spending just $2000 a year outside standard benchmarks can cut borrowing power by about $20,000 for a single applicant.
“It reduces borrowing power and slows the pace of saving for a deposit, particularly for younger Aussies trying to buy before prices move further out of reach,” Ms Hays said.
The results of the 2025 National Consumer Sentiment Survey by the Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF), released this week, paint a similar picture.
Average annual healthcare spend by state. Source: Money.com.au.
The survey of about 5100 adults found nearly half missed out on care they needed in the past year, with cost the biggest barrier — particularly for dental care, prescriptions and treatments.
One in four said they did not see a doctor when needed, while one in two reported skipping healthcare at least once due to expense.
Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia CEO Anja Pannek said it was “worrying” that household budget pressure now appeared to be spilling into other essential decisions, such as healthcare.
“For some borrowers, particularly those with equity in their homes, accessing equity may be an option to help manage unexpected or essential costs, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution,” Ms Pannek said.
“Borrowers with equity in their home may look to use it as a buffer during periods of financial pressure, but whether that makes sense really depends on individual circumstances
“Accessing equity is a significant financial decision. It’s important borrowers understand the long-term implications, not just the short-term relief.”
Ms Pannek said it was important to remember “your mortgage should never be ‘set and forget’.
“As financial pressures shift, it’s important to reassess whether your current loan is still working for you with your mortgage broker’s help,” she said.
“Brokers are telling us they are working with clients on repricing their home loan, and they’re seeing an increase in refinancing and also supporting clients with budgeting and options for consolidating debt. All of this can create breathing room when households need it most.”
Private Healthcare Australia CEO Rachel David defended the latest increases to private health insurance premiums.
“Every year we see people reconsider their cover when premiums change, but the reality is, most Australians don’t value their insurance until they face an unexpected health issue,” Dr David said.
“Health insurance isn’t something you buy for the person you were last year; it’s protection for the life stage you’re moving into. It’s important to consider what you and your family might need in the year ahead and whether that is readily available in the public system.”
Meanwhile, a separate Money.com.au survey found Australians are spending an average of $610 a month on GLP-1 medications — potentially slashing borrowing power by as much as $100,000.
The research found 17 per cent of Australians are currently taking drugs such as Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy, with one in 10 using them for weight loss and 7 per cent for conditions like diabetes.
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