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.

About Medicare

What Medicare is, how it works, who’s eligible and who manages it.

What's covered

What Medicare does and doesn’t cover, and other support programs. 

Safety nets

Safety nets provide extra support to people with high medical costs.

Compliance

How we protect our health payment system from incorrect billing.

As a health practitioner you must meet certain requirements to bill for Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items under Medicare or prescribe subsidised medicines. Pathology and diagnostic imaging services must also meet accreditation standards to access Medicare.

Information for health practitioners

Health Products Portal

The Health Products Portal helps us work with the medicines and technology sector more efficiently. Industry can make, track, pay for, and manage submissions to list products and services on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) or Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Schedule.

Learn more about the portal

Resources

Resources

Update to Assignment of Medicare Benefit requirements

Outlines updated simplified billing requirements for approved billing agents from 1 July 2026, including assignment pathways, compliance requirements, and what providers and patients need to do.

Why we need your agreement to bill Medicare

This resource provides detailed information for privately insured patients on how assigning Medicare benefits works, what options are available, and what happens after the benefit is processed.

Say yes to Medicare payment

This resource explains how Medicare benefits can be assigned to a private health insurer, what patients may need to do, and how they will be notified once their benefit is processed.