More than three in four voters want the main parties to guarantee before the election that they will not cut Medicare rebates, amid speculation that a review is likely to propose more cuts.

The results of a Galaxy poll, commissioned by Gillian Dalton, a health consultant associated with the Liberal Party, show an overwhelming 77 per cent want last year's cuts in Medicare rebates reversed. These cuts reduced the rebates for services such as IVF and cataract operations. Nearly 80 per cent of voters want the parties to undertake not to make further cuts.

The Galaxy poll of 1052 voters was taken at the weekend and follows the refusal of both Labor and the Coalition last week to say whether they would or would not cut Medicare rebates next term.

Patients' out-of-pocket costs have jumped 30 per cent in the past three years. Patients are paying an average gap of almost $38 in Victoria and $43 in NSW if their doctor or specialist does not bulk-bill. This is a rise of $10 since December 2007.

The Galaxy poll found more ALP voters (83 per cent) than Coalition supporters (77 per cent) said they wanted a guarantee not to cut Medicare rebates.

The squeeze on Medicare rebates has prompted one big radiology firm, Capitol Health, to warn it will need to stop bulk-billing all patients and consider closing some its nine clinics, throwing pressure on to strained public clinics.

Its decision would have a particular resonance for Labor because it has clinics in the electorates of the Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, and her Health Minister, Nicola Roxon.

The Health Department is undertaking a Medicare benefits ''quality framework'' review that has spurred concerns by the Australian Medical Association that rebates will be cut.

One source said the Finance Department had proposed the review deliver an overall reduction of 2.5 per cent in government expenditure on Medicare.

Government spokesmen did not respond to questions by the Herald yesterday.

In last year's budget the Rudd government proposed slashing Medicare payments to patients by $450 million over four years for cataract, IVF and other procedures. The government argued at the time that doctors were generating large and unjustifiable revenues from Medicare, but it later moderated the cuts.

Both Ms Roxon and an opposition spokesman, Peter Dutton, sidestepped the question when asked if there could be rebate cuts if they were in government.

Ms Roxon said the review ''will ensure that our Medicare schedule keeps up with modern medical practice''. Mr Dutton said the Coalition would increase rebates for after-hours treatment and long consultations.