Medicare Safety Net
Safeguarding your health costs
If you need to see a doctor or have tests regularly you could end up with high medical costs. The Medicare Safety Net is designed to help you when you need it most. It means that once you reach a safety net threshold, visits to your doctor or having tests may end up costing you less. Also available is the PBS Safety Net if you and your family need a lot of medicines in any year.
- Register Online for the Medicare Safety Net
- Registering as a safety net family
- Information sheet - How does the Medicare Safety Net work? [PDF, 187Kb]
How does the Medicare Safety Net work?
All families and couples need to register. Even if all your family members are listed on your Medicare card you still need to register for the safety net.
- each family member needs to be identified so their medical costs can be counted toward your family’s safety net.
- you only need to register your family once.
- registering is free.
The Medicare Safety Net threshold is indexed annually from 1 January and operates on a calendar year, 1 January to 31 December.
Please note: if you are registered as a family for safety net purposes, you must confirm your family make-up in writing each year with Medicare before any safety net benefits can be paid for services not already claimed.
Individuals are automatically registered—just keep your contact details up-to-date with Medicare.
If you register as a family or couple your medical costs are combined so that you are more likely to reach the thresholds sooner.
How do I register?
Registration options include:
- you can register online
- you can download a Medicare Safety Net registration form or pick one up from your local Medicare office. Completed forms can be placed in the drop box at most local Medicare offices or you can mail forms to GPO Box 9822 in your capital city.
- over-the-phone by calling 132 011
What services count towards the safety net?
The Medicare safety net covers a range of doctor visits and tests that you receive out-of-hospital. Having surgery, seeing a doctor or having a test when you are in hospital are not covered.
Some examples of services where costs count towards the safety net are:
- GP and specialists consultations
- ultrasounds
- pap smear
- blood tests
- CT scans
- x-rays
Contact details
Medicare: 132 011
TTY: 1800 552 152 (hearing and speech impaired)
TIS: 131 450 (Translating and Interpreting Service)
Email: medicare@medicareaustralia.gov.au
Mail: GPO Box 9822 in your capital city
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Last updated: 15 September, 2008