The PBS Safety Net helps you save money on PBS prescription medicines after you spend a certain amount during the year.
From 1 January 2026, if you or your family spend over $1,748.20 on PBS medicines in a year, you can qualify for the PBS Safety Net. For pension and Commonwealth concession card holders, the threshold is $277.20.
If you have a Medicare card and reach the Safety Net threshold, you’ll pay the concessional rate of $7.70 for each PBS medicine for the rest of the year. If you have a pensioner or concession card and reach the Safety Net, you’ll get your PBS medicines for free for the rest of the year.
If you do reach the Safety Net, brand premiums and special patient contributions still apply.
You or your family may no longer reach the PBS Safety Net due to savings from the reduction of the co-payment or if you get 60-day prescriptions. Or you might reach the PBS Safety Net later in the year than usual. This might happen because you are spending less money throughout the year on prescriptions.
PBS Safety Net and 60-day prescriptions explained
Read more about how 60-day prescriptions work with the PBS Safety Net.