The new head of the Australian Medical Association has warned conservative politicians to stop "fiddling around" with Medicare, saying it is a "totem" for voters who do not want it changed.

Dr Michael Gannon told the National Press Club in Canberra that Labor's so-called Mediscare campaign in the federal election campaign was successful because there was a "very strong undercurrent of fear and uncertainty" among voters as a result of the Coalition's 2014 budget.

"The Coalition government went to the election oblivious to, or unprepared for, the community's concerns about health services," Dr Gannon said on Wednesday.

"Right or wrong, co-payments became code for attacks on poor and disadvantaged people in the community. They were seen as attacks on sick people. They were seen as attacks on working families with young kids. In short, the co-payment strategy was a political disaster."