What is Medicare?

Medicare is the insurance scheme that gives Australian citizens, permanent residents and other eligible people access to healthcare. This includes a wide range of health and hospital services at no cost or low cost.

Medicare is funded by Australian taxpayers, who pay 2% of their taxable income to help cover healthcare costs. This 'Medicare levy' is automatically calculated when you submit your tax return.

Depending on your financial circumstances, you may be eligible for a reduction or exemption from the Medicare levy.

Who is eligible for Medicare?

You are eligible for Medicare benefits if you:

• are an Australian or New Zealand citizen
• are an Australian permanent resident
• have applied for permanent residency (some conditions apply)
• are a temporary resident covered by a Ministerial Order
• are a citizen or permanent resident of Norfolk Island, Cocos Islands, Christmas Island or Lord Howe Island
• are covered by a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with another country

What does Medicare cover?

If you have a Medicare card, you can get free or lower cost:

• medical services by doctors, specialists and other health professionals
• hospital treatment
• prescription medicines, if they are covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
• mental health care
• tests, scans and preventative screening programs

How do I know how much is covered?

The benefits (refunds) you receive from Medicare are based on a schedule of fees set by the Australian Government, known as the Medical Benefit Schedule (MBS). Your doctor can choose to charge more than the set schedule fee. If an out of hospital service is on the MBS, Medicare will pay:

• the full schedule fee for general practitioner services
• 85% of the schedule fee for a specialist
• 75% of the schedule fee for in hospital services (but if you have private hospital insurance cover for the medical service, your insurer may pay the gap of 25% of the MBS fee.)

What is the Medicare Safety Net?

If you need to see a doctor or get tests regularly, you may spend a lot of money out-of-pocket on medical appointments or tests.

If you spend over a certain amount in a year, you may be eligible for the Medicare Safety Net. Once you have spent up to a certain amount, you will receive a higher Medicare benefit for certain services for the rest of the calendar year.

You can read more on how to register for the Medicare Safety Net on the Services Australia website.

How do I access Medicare?

To access Medicare, you need to enrol.

If you are eligible, you will get a Medicare number and card. If you're a parent or guardian, your Medicare card will show family members' names and individual reference numbers, under a single Medicare number.

You can also get a digital copy of your Medicare card, if you have a myGov account that is linked to your Medicare online account. Then, download the Express Plus mobile app to access your Medicare card.

You can find registration information at the front of the Medicare enrolment form at Services Australia.

Use your Medicare card when you:

• make a Medicare claim for a paid or unpaid doctor's account
• visit a doctor who bulk bills
• receive treatment as a public patient in a public hospital
• fill a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescription at a pharmacy

What is MyMedicare?

MyMedicare is a free voluntary patient registration system that allows people to register with their regular general practice, preferred GP and primary care team. This formalises the relationship between doctors and their patients and allows other health professionals to easily find details of your regular practice and preferred GP, enabling better care.

MyMedicare will not hold clinical health information about you. You can read the privacy notice for more information on the storage of your data.

Watch the video below to learn more about MyMedicare. It has also been translated in several languages.

How will registering for MyMedicare benefit me?

Once registered, your primary care team will receive extra government funding to help you get the care that you need, for services such as:

• longer MBS-funded telephone calls (levels C and D) with your usual GP
• incentive for longer MBS telehealth consultations (Levels C, D and E) for children under 16, pensioners and concession card holders
• more regular visits from your GP and better care planning, if you live in a residential aged care home
• from the 2024-25 financial year, connections to more appropriate care in general practice if you have been visiting hospital frequently

How do I register for MyMedicare?

To register for MyMedicare, you must have either:

• a Medicare card, or
• a Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Veteran Card

You will need have 2 face-to-face visits recorded with the same practice in the previous 24 months to be eligible to register with that practice.

You can register:

• via your Medicare Online Account or Express Plus Medicare Mobile app
• at your doctor's practice

Your practice will need to accept your registration in the MyMedicare system. Both you and your practice need to consent to the registration.

Parents or guardians and children can be registered at the same practice if one of them is eligible and registered at the practice.

People in remote locations, or people experiencing hardship such as family, violence or homelessness, may be exempt from eligibility criteria.

For more information, including how to register for MyMedicare, go to the Department of Health and Aged Care's website.

Who can I register with for MyMedicare?

MyMedicare users can register with their preferred GP at:

• an accredited general practice
• an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service
• an Aboriginal Medical Service
• a nurse practitioner-led practice with a GP
• other non-traditional practices that meet the healthcare provider registration and eligibility criteria

Your chosen practice must be registered with MyMedicare before you can register as a patient.

You can only be registered with one practice at a time.

You can change your chosen practice and/or GP through your MyMedicare if you meet the requirements.

You can choose to withdraw from MyMedicare at any time.

Resources and Support

• A list of all Medicare services is available at the Services Australia website. For all Medicare general enquiries phone 132 011, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• You can read more about MyMedicare in this Frequently Asked Questions factsheet.

Do you prefer to read in languages other than English?

• For information in your language or help from an interpreter, visit the 'Information in your language' page on the Services Australia website.

Looking for information for Aboriginal and/or Torres Islander people?

• Find out how to get started with Medicare on the Services Australia website.
• Read more about available health services and Medicare benefits as part of the Indigenous Access Program
• Call the Indigenous Access Line on 1800 556 955 for help with a Medicare services or payment.