Bulk billing
Learn more about what bulk billing is, how it works and its benefits.
Support for mental health
Find out about supports and services for mental health.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics
Learn more about care for urgent but not life-threatening illnesses and injuries.
Child dental benefits
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule covers part or all the cost of basic dental services for eligible children.
More investment in bulk billing
9 in 10
GP visits with children under 16 are bulk billed
*data refers to GP NRA services in the 12 months to 31 October 2024
Over 3 in 4
GP visits are bulk billed
*data refers to GP NRA services in the 12 months to 31 October 2024
5.4 million
additional bulk billed GP visits claimed the bulk billing incentive since it was tripled on 1 November 2023
*data accurate as at 31 October 2024
How common is bulk billing in your local area?
General practitioners (GPs) can choose whether to bulk bill or charge for their services, including whether to bulk bill every patient they see or just some patients, and what kind of consultations they bulk bill and when.
Find out how often GP visits are bulk billed in your local area
National bulk billing rate
Comparison period from 1 July 2023 – 31 October 2024.
Bulk billing
Bulk billing means that you don’t have to pay for the medical service from your health professional. Medicare pays your doctor directly, providing a way to access healthcare without out-of-pocket expenses.
How it works
- Step 1: Visit your general practitioner (GP) or healthcare professional – if your doctor offers bulk billing, you need to bring your Medicare card to your appointment.
- Step 2: With your permission, your GP submits a claim directly to Medicare for the provided service.
- Step 3: No payment required – because Medicare pays your doctor directly, you don’t need to pay anything at your appointment.
If you are under 16 or are a pensioner and concession card holder, you are more likely to be bulk billed for GP services.
Find a GP that bulk bills every patient
Find a GP that bulk bills some patients
Investing in bulk billing
On 1 November 2023, the Australian Government made its largest investment in bulk billing incentives in the 40-year history of Medicare ($3.5 billion).
The bulk billing incentive payments were tripled for GPs who choose to bulk bill pensioners, concession card holders and children under 16 years of age for a range of general practice consultations, including:
- all face-to-face general consultations longer than 6 minutes
- telehealth consultations longer than 6 minutes and up to 20 minutes, and longer telehealth consultations for patients registered with MyMedicare.
The most common Medicare consultation is a GP consultation lasting between 6 and 20 minutes.
Increasing the bulk billing incentives supports:
- doctors to continue to bulk bill Australians who feel cost of living pressures most acutely
- younger Australians, pensioners and concession card holders to better access affordable general practice services.
Your questions answered
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Use online tools: The find a health service search tool on the healthdirect website can help you locate GPs and specialists that offer bulk billing.
Call ahead: Before your appointment, call the clinic to ask whether they bulk bill and if any conditions apply (age, pensioners or concession card holder).
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Not all health professionals bulk bill all patients. You should check if yours will bulk bill you when you make an appointment.
If your GP does not bulk bill, you need to pay for your appointment. You may be able to claim some of the cost back from Medicare afterwards.
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Any Medicare service can be bulk billed, including:
- visits to GPs and specialists
- tests and scans like x-rays and pathology tests
- eye tests performed by optometrist.
Read more about what bulk billing can cover.
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If your health professional bulk bills, you may be able to access health care at no cost.
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- General Practitioner (GP) visits and telehealth services: Many GPs offer bulk billing, especially for children under 16, pensioners, or those with a Health Care Card.
- Pathology and diagnostic services: Some blood tests and X-rays may be bulk billed, depending on the provider.
- Eye tests: Many optometrists offer bulk billed eye tests.
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If your doctor does not offer bulk billing, you may be able to make a Medicare claim after you pay the full cost.
Paying upfront: You pay the full fee and then place a Medicare claim for the service.
Mental health support
Improving the mental health and wellbeing of Australians and preventing suicide is a high priority of the Australian Government, with a commitment to reform the mental health and suicide prevention system. This aims to ensure all Australians have access to affordable care when and where they need it.
Medicare Mental Health Centres
Medicare Mental Health Centres provide free, walk-in support for mental health and wellbeing, making it easier to access confidential support when you need it.
More centres will open over time, giving more communities access to mental health support.
Anyone can access support for mental health and wellbeing across Australia. No appointment, referral, Medicare enrolment or Medicare card is needed, and you don’t need to be an Australian citizen to access support.
You can also call 1800 595 212 for information about local mental health supports or to book an appointment with your nearest centre.
Find out more about Medicare Mental Health Centre services
Find a Medicare Mental Health Centre near you
Medicare support for sessions with a mental health professional
Mental health support is also available to eligible people, so they can access the mental health services they need wherever they live in Australia.
Support is available from:
- eligible general practitioners (GPs)
- prescribed medical practitioners
- psychiatrists
- psychologists (clinical and registered)
- eligible social workers and occupational therapists.
Medicare benefits are available for a maximum of 10 individual and 10 group mental health services each calendar year. Patients can access more if they wish, but Medicare will not cover above this amount. On average, patients use around 5 Medicare subsided treatment session a year.
Find out more about accessing Medicare support for sessions with a mental health professional
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics
How Medicare Urgent Care Clinics support you
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics provide free walk-in healthcare for urgent illnesses and injuries, reducing pressure on emergency departments and making it easier to access urgent care when you need it.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics are open extended hours, 7 days and you don't need an appointment or referral.
Learn more about when to visit a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic.
Child dental benefits
Child dental benefits is part of Medicare, Australia’s health care system that provides access to a wide range of health and hospital services at low or no cost. Children who are eligible for the benefit can access general dental treatment at public and participating private dental clinics.
Who is eligible?
You don’t need to apply or register for child dental benefits. If your child is eligible, you will automatically receive a letter from Services Australia to inform you. The letter will come to you via post or through myGov.
You can also check if your child is eligible if you have Medicare linked to your myGov account. Sign in using the myGov app or enter my.gov.au into your browser and select Medicare.
Children are eligible if they are:
- under 18 years of age
- eligible for Medicare, and
- getting a government support payment at least once a year, or have a parent, carer or guardian who is getting a government support payment.
Government payments that count toward eligibility are listed below:
| Payments to a parent, carer or guardian | Payments to a child | Payments to a teenager’s partner |
|---|---|---|
| Family Tax Benefit Part A | ABSTUDY | Family Tax Benefit Part A |
| Parenting Payment | Family Tax Benefit Part A | Parenting Payment |
| Double Orphan Pension | Carer Payment | |
| Disability Support Pension | ||
| Parenting Payment | ||
| Special Benefit | ||
| Youth Allowance | ||
Department of Veterans’ Affairs education allowances under the:
| ||
What dental services are covered?
Dental services covered by the child dental benefit include:
- check-ups
- X-rays
- cleaning
- fissure sealing
- fillings
- root canals
- extractions
- partial dentures.
Orthodontic treatment, cosmetic dental work and dental services in a hospital are not covered.
How to access the benefit
If your child is eligible, $1,095* worth of dental services is available to use over 2 years.
Check your child’s eligibility before booking your dental appointment.
Not all dentists bulk bill. You should check if your dentist does when you make an appointment.
When you are booking a dental appointment, check if your dental practice provides services under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule. Let them know you plan to use the child dental benefits for your child’s treatment.
(*This is the 2024 indexed amount. The amount is adjusted on 1 January each year.)
Use the find a health service tool on the healthdirect Service Finder to find a dentist who bulk bills.
Note: the data in healthdirect Australia's National Health Services Directory relies on updates by individuals rather than one data custodian. You should take caution when using as the information within may be out of date. This can be in terms of service(s) provided, location of services, operational status, contact details etc.