For 4 decades, Medicare has guaranteed all Australians (and some overseas visitors) access to a wide range of health and hospital services at low or no cost.
This has helped people to get the health care they need when they need it, no matter their income or where they live.
To acknowledge Medicare’s milestone, we have launched a commemorative website. It features historical information, an image gallery and stories from health professionals about their experience with Medicare.
Services Australia has launched a commemorative edition of the Medicare card for all new cards printed in 2024. The card will feature a refresh of the Medicare brand along with a 40-year anniversary logo.
The old versions of the Medicare card will continue to be valid until the expiry date on the bottom right corner of the card.
Medicare is widely considered to be one of Australia’s greatest achievements.
The Australian Government is strengthening Medicare to meet today’s changing health challenges. This includes:
- increasing bulk billing incentives
- supporting better connected care enabled by digital technologies
- supporting a more team-based approach to care
- improving continuity of care through supporting more multidisciplinary primary care approaches
- providing more flexible funding models beyond traditional fee-for-service.
Visit health.gov.au/medicare-turns-40 to find out more.