Australians are paying more for healthcare than most other developed nations, forking out $34 billion a year on out-of-pocket health costs, an analysis of official data reveals.

The latest data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that of the $181 billion spent annually on health, 19 per cent is paid directly from patients' pockets.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten says Labor will help reduce out-of-pocket costs for cancer patients. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Those out of pocket costs equate to 3 per cent of Australian household spending, the third-highest in the OECD behind South Korea (5.7 per cent) and Sweden (3.8 per cent).

The analysis comes as Opposition Leader Bill Shorten prepares to announce a $200 million pledge to keep pathology tests free for older Australians and those with cancer on Tuesday, after rejecting claims his bulk billing cancer plan could blow a $6 billion hole in the budget.