As women, the responsibility for your family’s health and wellbeing can often fall to you, especially if you have children and you’re also caring for ageing parents who can have high health care needs.
So, do you know about all the ways Medicare can help you and your family?
The Australian Government has strengthened Medicare with more investment in bulk billing, mental health support, Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, and child dental benefits.
Bulk billing can save you money
To make it easier to see a GP, the Government has invested $3.5 billion in triple bulk billing incentives for General Practitioners (GPs) who choose to bulk bill pensioners, concession card holders and children under 16 years of age for a range of general practice consultations. The incentive encourages more GPs to offer free or cheaper health care.
With bulk billing, Medicare pays your doctor directly for the service, with your permission. This means you don’t need to pay anything at the time of your visit, and there are no out-of-pocket costs.
Bulk billing can cover visits to GPs and specialists, some tests and scans like x-rays and pathology tests, and eye tests performed by optometrists.
Just take your Medicare card when seeing your GP or healthcare professional. If your doctor offers bulk billing, they will submit a claim directly to Medicare for the provided service with your permission.
If your GP does not bulk bill, you may still be able to make a Medicare claim after you pay the full cost.
To find your nearest bulk billing GP, visit the Healthdirect website.
More convenient urgent care
How many times have you had to go to the emergency department in the middle of the night or on the weekend because someone has gastro or had a fall?
If you need urgent, but not emergency care, you can now visit a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic for non-life-threatening illnesses and injuries like minor infections, minor fractures or sprains, insect bites, rashes, gastro, and mild burns. They bulk bill, open early and late every day, and you don’t need an appointment or referral.
Find a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic near you here.
Mental health support if you or your family need it
The day-to-day pressures of work, family and life can take their toll on your mental health. You might also be worried about mental health issues if you have children.
In the past, mental health care hasn’t always been accessible or affordable so it’s reassuring to know that there’s a growing network of Medicare Mental Health Centres.
These centres offer free, walk-in mental health support. They are staffed with highly qualified mental health professionals and people with lived experience of mental ill health.
You don’t need a referral or a Medicare card.
Medicare also helps cover the cost of up to ten individual and ten group therapy sessions of mental health support each year through Mental Health Treatment Plans. Just ask your GP.
Support for basic dental care
The Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) can help sweeten the dentist visit for your kids.
This program helps cover the cost of basic dental care for eligible children aged 0-17. It provides up to $1,132* over two years for services like check-ups, cleaning, fillings, and extractions.
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 let you know. 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.
Check your child’s eligibility and ask your dentist if they participate in the CDBS and will bulk bill the appointment before you book.
*2025 indexed amount – adjusted on 1 January each year.
For more information on how to get the most out of Medicare benefits, visit the Stronger Medicare website.
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