The federal government's proposed changes to Medicare came under fire at a rally in Springwood on Saturday.
Nurses, unionists and members of the public gathered in Buckland Park to oppose the planned $7 Medicare co-payment - a controversial budget proposal that is yet to find support in the Senate
Labor Senator Doug Cameron said the "so-called co-payment is simply a $7 tax".
He urged the Palmer United Party (PUP) senators to block the change in the Senate.
"I just hope Clive Palmer - who I don't think understands what happens to ordinary people - and his PUP party actually do meet the commitments they've made to look after ordinary Australians," he said.
Labor spokeswoman for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, said the changes would hit young people and students especially hard.
"My reason for wanting to save Medicare is that getting access to a doctor and healthcare should not depend on your bank balance. It's a fundamental principal of being Australian," she said.
Aged care nurse Jocelyn Hofman told the rally she feared the federal government wants to undermine Medicare.
"We are very concerned the current federal government has begun a stealthy process to dismantle Medicare," she said.
"We fear the plan is to create a two tier health system similar to what operates in the USA. Our Prime Minister talks a lot about 'Team Australia' but in health care there will be two teams - one team will be covered by expensive private insurance, the other team will have to make do with a second-class, under-funded health system."
Labor's candidate for Blue Mountains, Trish Doyle, also spoke at the rally.
