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Medicare

Services Australia delivers Medicare and related programs, providing Australians with access to some health services at low or no cost.

Vision and mission

To help Australians access a wide range of health services and affordable health care through Australia’s universal health care system.

How Medicare can help

Medicare helps with the costs of seeing a doctor, getting medicines and accessing mental health care.

The Australian government pays for Medicare through the Medicare levy. Working Australians pay the Medicare levy as part of their income tax.

When you enrol in Medicare, they pay some or all of the costs of your necessary health care.

Keep in mind, they don’t pay for all medical services.

The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) lists the services they pay for. The Department of Health manages the MBS. Read more about what’s covered.

If your doctor bulk bills, they pay the cost directly to the doctor. This means you won’t have to pay anything. Read more about how bulk billing works.

You’ll need to pay for your appointment if your GP doesn’t bulk bill. You may be able to claim some of this money back from Medicare.

Medicare also help to make some medicines more affordable for you through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Read more about Medicine and Medicare.

If you have high medical costs, there are ways to help keep your costs under control. Read more about help with medical costs.

Information line

Contact Medicare

Programs, apps and tools

Recommended links

This information was originally published on healthdirect - Medicare Australia.

Last reviewed: June 2022

Information from this partner

Found 55 results

Refugee Servicing Network financial help - Refugee Servicing Network - Services Australia

You may be able to get some payments and services from us.

Read more on Medicare website

Getting support if you’re caring for someone - Caring for someone - Services Australia

If you care for someone, there are payments and services available to support you and the person you care for.

Read more on Medicare website

When your baby arrives - Having a baby - Services Australia

Use your Parent Pack to help finalise your pre-birth claim, make a new claim and enrol your baby in Medicare.

Read more on Medicare website

COVID-19 vaccinations - Seeking medical help - Services Australia

How to get proof of your COVID-19 vaccinations, including help getting your COVID-19 digital certificate or immunisation history statements.

Read more on Medicare website

Foster Child Health Care Card - Services Australia

A concession card to get cheaper medicines and some discounts.

Read more on Medicare website

As your baby grows - Having a baby - Services Australia

As your baby grows, keep their immunisations up to date. Discuss returning to work with your employer. Tell us if you’re returning to work.

Read more on Medicare website

Having a baby - Services Australia

Payments and services to help when you have a baby. How to enrol your baby in Medicare. How returning to work and your child's immunisations affect your payments.

Read more on Medicare website

Multicultural organisations - Accessing our services - Services Australia

We work with community organisations to promote our payments and services. We also act on issues raised by them.

Read more on Medicare website

Seeking medical help to recover - Seeking medical help - Services Australia

Find out what help you can get while you’re recovering from an injury or illness.

Read more on Medicare website

Most viewed payments for child health and safety - Services Australia

The payments and services most viewed by other website visitors.

Read more on Medicare website

Call us and speak to a Maternal Child Health Nurse for personal advice and guidance.

Need further advice or guidance from our maternal child health nurses?

Healthdirect Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the Traditional Owners and to Elders both past and present.

This information is for your general information and use only and is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes.

The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care. If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional.

Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, this publication or any part of it may not be reproduced, altered, adapted, stored and/or distributed in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of Healthdirect Australia.