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

The Medicare framework

A high-level overview of the Medicare service and claiming process, designed to illustrate how funded services progress through delivery, claiming, payment and compliance activities.

Understanding Medicare – fast facts

A fact sheet that provides essential Medicare information for health providers and practice staff, based on the "Understanding Medicare – Provider Handbook".

Medicare resource hub

A quick reference guide for key Medicare information, education and support resources – companion to the Medicare resource list.

Medicare resource list

Directory of Medicare guidance, education and support resources, grouped by topic area, to help providers and practice staff find relevant information for each stage of the Medicare claiming journey – companion to the Medicare resource hub.