About bulk billing
Bulk billing means you don’t pay anything when you see a GP, because Medicare covers the full cost of the service. This allows Medicare-eligible patients to access free health care, making it easier to get the care you need, when you need it.
All Medicare-eligible patients can access bulk billed appointments at general practices that offer bulk billing but not all GPs bulk bill all of the time.
General practices participating in the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP) will bulk bill every Medicare-eligible patient, for every eligible service. This could save you and your family hundreds of dollars a year in out-of-pocket costs.
Before you see a doctor, it’s a good idea to check if they are a Bulk Billing Practice using the map or asking if they will bulk bill you or if there will be any out-of-pocket costs. It is up to the individual doctor to decide if a patient is bulk billed.
How to access bulk billing
Step 1: Check if your GP offers bulk billing
Find a bulk billed clinic near you by visiting the map
Participating practices in the BBPIP will also display bulk billing signage at the clinic. If your GP is not participating in BBPIP, you can contact the practice to confirm whether they will bulk bill your service.
Step 2: Visit your GP
Remember to take your Medicare card to your appointment.
Step 3: Your GP submits a claim directly to Medicare for the service provided
To allow for this, you give your consent by signing an Assignment of Benefit form.
Step 4: Medicare pays your doctor directly
So you don’t need to pay anything at your appointment.
GP services that are commonly bulk billed
- consultations, including telehealth services
- GP chronic condition management plans and reviews
- mental health treatment plans
- health assessments.
It’s up to your doctor to decide whether they bulk bill a service. However, at Medicare Bulk Billing Practices, all eligible services are bulk billed for Medicare‑eligible patients.
What if my doctor does not bulk bill?
If you have attended a private or mixed-billing clinic, you may not be bulk billed. This means you will have to pay for your services at the time of your appointment. If a Medicare benefit applies to the services, you can claim this amount back from Medicare.
Paying upfront: You pay the full fee and then claim a refund from Medicare for the service. For more information about getting Medicare benefits, visit the Services Australia website.
Find a bulk billing practice near you
To find a bulk billing GP near you visit our map
To view all clinics, including mixed billing and privately billed clinics, visit Healthdirect.