From the 1st of January 2025, the Australian Government introduced a freeze on the maximum patient cost of medicines listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, or the PBS.
The PBS works alongside Medicare and supports Australia’s National Medicines Policy.
Through the PBS, the cost of listed prescription medicines is shared between the patient and the Australian Government.
The Australian Government sets the maximum price that a patient pays for a PBS medicine. This is called the PBS patient co-payment.
Some PBS medicines may cost less than this. The PBS patient co-payment usually increases every year due to indexation.
Freezing the co-payment means that:
For Medicare cardholders, the maximum cost of a PBS medicine will stay the same as it was in 2024 until the end of 2025.
For pensioners and other Commonwealth concession cardholders the maximum cost will stay the same as it was in 2024 for the next 5 years.
This freeze supports more people to access essential medicines by keeping them affordable.
For medicines that cost less than the PBS patient co-payment of $31.60, pharmacies decide how much to charge, so prices can vary depending on where you go to fill your prescription.
For more information on how the PBS co-payment freeze can help you and your family, visit health.gov.au/cheapermedicines.