Medicare
Medicare is Australia’s universal health insurance scheme. It guarantees all Australians (and some overseas visitors) access to a wide range of health and hospital services at low or no cost. Find out what we’re doing to improve Medicare for all Australians.
This is our new Health website
While we are updating our content, some of the links will take you back to our old website.
Medicare in Australia
Australians make more than 150 million visits to a GP every year. Medicare — our public health insurance system — helps pay for these visits.
If you have a Medicare card, you can access a range of health care services for free or at a lower cost, including:
- medical services by doctors, specialists and other health professionals
- hospital treatment
- prescription medicines
The Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) lists the medical services covered by Medicare.
The schedule includes an MBS fee for each service. This is the amount (or benefit) the Australian Government thinks the service should cost. The schedule also includes how much benefit you can claim for each service.
If you spend a lot of money on out-of-hospital medical costs over a year, you may be able to access higher benefits through the Medicare Safety Net.
A Medicare card also gives you access to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). This means you only pay part of the cost of many prescription medicines listed on the PBS. The PBS covers the rest of the cost. If you have a concession card, you pay an even lower price.
If you pay a lot for medications in a year, you may be able to get a further discount through the PBS Safety Net.
Medicare also covers diagnostic imaging services such as ultrasound, CT scans, X-rays, MRI scans. Find out more about diagnostic imaging under Medicare.
What we’re doing about Medicare
We advise the Australian Government on Medicare policy and manage things like:
- which health services to include on the MBS
- the benefit amount for each MBS service
- the threshold for the MBS Safety Net
Our Medical Treatment Overseas Program provides financial help for people who need life-saving medical treatment that’s only available overseas.
We also help health professionals comply with Medicare requirements by providing information, guidelines and training.
Initiatives and programs

Healthier Medicare initiative
This initiative has 3 priorities:
- review the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)
- improve care for people with chronic and complex conditions through Health Care Homes
- develop clearer Medicare compliance rules
Laws

Medicare laws
Medicare is governed by laws that cover:
- what can be claimed
- who is eligible to claim
- how much benefit will be paid
- who manages payments and services
- who administers Medicare
Resources

Chronic disease management — allied health services under Medicare
If you have a chronic medical condition and need complex care, you may be able to get Medicare rebates for up to 5 allied health services in a calendar year. Ask your doctor if you’re eligible.