Medicare

Private health insurance can help to cover some medical and health costs that Medicare does not cover.How much and what private health insurance covers depends on the policy you purchase. Examples of some of the medical services Medicare provides for free or at a reduced cost include:Medicare does not cover:There are 3 types of private health...

Medicare Safety Net explainedThe Medicare Safety Net is the mechanism the Australian government uses to ensure your medical costs are affordable.If you see a doctor or get medical tests regularly, you could end up with high medical costs.When you spend over a certain amount in a calendar year, Medicare gives you back a higher amount...

The Australian Government funds Medicare through the Medicare Levy and the Medicare Levy Surcharge.If you work, you pay the Medicare Levy as part of your income tax.If you are a high-income earner who does not have an appropriate level of private Hospital Cover, you also pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge. Revenue from the Medicare Levy and...

There are 4 ways to claim a Medicare Benefit:Medicare will not accept claims for services that are more than 2 years old.How to claim your Medicare Benefit at your provider’s officeThe quickest and easiest way to claim your Medicare Benefit is when you pay for the service at your doctor or healthcare provider’s office.To claim...

A Medicare Rebate is the amount the Australian Government pays for medical services listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule.The term is no longer used by Medicare.Instead, Medicare now uses the term Medicare Benefit.Sometimes the term Medicare Rebate is used to refer to the Private Health Insurance Rebate.

A Medicare Benefit is the amount the Australian Government pays when you make a claim for a medical service.This is usually 85-100% of the schedule fee, which is the amount the Government sets for each medical service under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).Previously, a Medicare Benefit was called a Medicare Rebate.

To apply for a Medicare Card, there are 3 steps:

When you enrol in Medicare, you are given a Medicare Card.It is a plastic card similar in size to a credit card. It is proof you are enrolled in Medicare.Your Medicare Card records your Medicare Number, name, IRN (individual reference number) and the date your card will expire.It looks like this:It allows you to access...