1800MEDICARE

Connecting to 1800MEDICARE

You can now get free health information and expert advice anywhere in Australia, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through 1800MEDICARE.

Call 1800MEDICARE (1800 633 422)

Anyone in Australia can speak to a registered nurse by calling 1800MEDICARE. When you call 1800MEDICARE the nurse will answer and listen to what’s going on. They will understand your situation and how urgent it might be.

The registered nurse will give you information and guidance on what to do next. They can:

help you manage your care safely at home
help connect you with appropriate healthcare services or book an appointment for you – depending on where you live this could include your GP, a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic or other health services
transfer you to 000 if it’s an emergency
assess whether you are eligible for a call back from a 1800MEDICARE GP – the GP will be able to provide additional advice or write you an electronic prescription if you need one.
- to receive an e‑script, you’ll need a current Medicare Card, Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Card, or an Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI)
- the GP can also send a summary after the call to your regular GP to help with your ongoing care.

Visit 1800MEDICARE online

You can quickly get expert health information and tools online to help you decide what to do next when you’re unwell or worried about your health.

The 1800MEDICARE website gives you:

expert health information
a symptom checker to guide your next steps
tools to find health services near you
information on medicines
resources for consumers and health professionals
access to the 1800MEDICARE phone service
links to access the Google Play and Apple App stores and download the 1800MEDICARE app.

All of this is designed to help you understand your options and connect with the right care for non‑emergency health concerns.

Download the 1800MEDICARE app

You can also access the service through the 1800MEDICARE app.

The 1800MEDICARE app is a secure and convenient way to view key health information.

It also gives you access to electronic prescriptions and your Active Script List (if you have one) and has other great features.

It’s fast, easy, and secure – and you can access and share the information from the palm of your hand. It is available for mobile phones and tablets.

With the 1800MEDICARE app you can:

Store your electronic prescriptions and check your Active Script List.
See your medical history in one place.
Access your information about medical and pharmaceutical service provided by Medicare, as well as links on how to enrol and claim.
Check your test results, including most pathology results as soon as they are uploaded.
Manage and change your privacy and access settings for your My Health Record.
Invite someone you trust to help manage your record.
Store your emergency contact details.
View multiple records as a nominated or authorised representative.
Share your vaccinations and immunisations information.
Store your allergies and reactions information.
Find and book a health service.
Access the symptom checker and search for trusted health information.
Connect to the 1800MEDICARE phone service.

Emergency Support

In an emergency, always call triple zero (000) or go straight to your closest emergency department.

About 1800MEDICARE

1800MEDICARE is an Australian Government initiative under the Strengthening Medicare agenda, designed to simplify access to care and improve equity by providing free, nationwide health advice and service navigation.

Why 1800MEDICARE Matters

1800MEDICARE makes it easier for people across Australia to get the right health advice and care when they need it by providing free, 24/7 access to expert health information and advice. This helps individuals, families and carers make informed decisions about their health. The service also connects people with existing services, including GPs (and 1800MEDICARE virtual GPs in the after-hours period), Medicare Urgent Care Clinics and local health providers. Operating on a 24‑hour basis, 1800MEDICARE ensures that health advice is available outside standard clinic hours, including nights, weekends and public holidays. This continuous availability is beneficial for situations that require timely but non‑urgent medical attention.

1800MEDICARE:

Provides free, 24/7 access to nurse-led health advice nationally, by phone, website and app, giving people timely support whenever they need it.
Provides simplified access to primary health care. It integrates with existing Medicare and primary care services to support local care and ensure people are guided to the most appropriate option, including GPs, Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, pharmacies and other local health services.
Guides people to the right care at the right time by supporting people with non-emergency health concerns to avoid unnecessary emergency department visits. Urgent cases are escalated when needed.
Improves equity of access to care – particularly for people in rural, regional and remote areas, by offering virtual care and navigation support where local services may be limited or under pressure.
Supports continuity of care by strengthening referral pathways and enabling secure information sharing, where appropriate, with a person’s regular GP and care team.