How do I claim from Medicare?
At the doctor's
Many doctors now offer on the spot claiming after you’ve paid your account. If your doctor offers on the spot claiming, practice staff can either lodge your claim with us through a secure internet connection or through the practice’s EFTPOS terminal using your EFTPOS card. Both systems will deposit your rebate directly into your cheque or savings account within two to three working days (sometimes even sooner).
On the spot claiming is quick, easy, secure and convenient and will save you a trip to a Medicare office.
What do you need to do?
If your doctor uses the internet based claiming system (Medicare Online, your rebate will be paid directly into your nominated cheque or savings account within two to three working days. Simply register your bank account details with us today.
You can register your bank account details:
- online through our Online Services. If you’re not already registered with Online Services, why not register now?
- by calling 132 011
- in person at your local Medicare office
- by completing an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) details collection form [PDF, 116Kb]
.
Completed forms can be placed in the drop box at your local Medicare office or sent to Medicare Australia, GPO Box 9822, in your capital city.
Remember to have Medicare card and bank account details (branch number [BSB], account number and account name) with you when you register. Also, let us know if your details change in the future.
If your doctor uses the EFTPOS based claiming system—using your EFTPOS card—your rebate will be paid into your bank account almost immediately. Remember to take your Medicare and EFTPOS cards with you each time you visit your doctor.
You can save yourself a trip to a Medicare office by claiming your rebate at the doctor’s after you’ve paid your account.
More and more doctors are offering on the spot claiming. Ask the practice staff if they offer on the spot claiming next time you visit your doctor.
At your local Medicare office
We have 238 Medicare offices around Australia where you can claim over the counter or using the Medicare drop box.
Register your bank account details with us today for quick and easy payment into your nominated bank account by EFT.
By mail
Medicare claims can be made by sending a completed Medicare claim form along with the original account and receipt to Medicare Australia, GPO Box 9822, in your capital city (do not send your Medicare card when you claim by mail). Once we have received your documents and your claim has been processed, we will pay your rebate by EFT or cheque.
Register your bank account details with us today for quick and easy payment into your nominated bank account by EFT.
Over the phone
Medicare claims can be made by calling 1300 360 460. You talk to a Medicare operator who takes your claim details and you then send your original account and receipt to Medicare Australia, GPO Box 9822, in your capital city—no claim form is needed. We will start to process your claim while your documents are in the mail. Once they have been verified, your rebate will be paid into your nominated bank account or we will send you a cheque. You can call 1300 360 460, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Register your bank account details with us today for quick and easy payment into your nominated bank account by EFT.
At a Medicare Australia Access Point
If it’s not easy for you to get to a Medicare office, Medicare Australia access points are a quick, easy and convenient way to make a claim. Access points are located in local communities, in pharmacies, rural transaction centres, post offices, some shops and even service stations. As with phone claiming, you speak directly to a Medicare operator who will take down all of your details and begin processing your claim. You then send your documents to us and once they have been verified, the payment will be made. Find your nearest Medicare Australia Access Point.
Register your bank account details with us today for quick and easy payment into your nominated bank account by EFT.
Medicare two-way
Medicare two-way is an Australian Government program that allows us to collect private health fund claims, and private health funds to collect Medicare claims related to in-hospital services.
If your private health fund participates in the Medicare two-way program, you have the convenience of being able to lodge your private health fund claim at your local Medicare office, or your in-hospital Medicare claim at your private health fund office.
You can fill in a Medicare claim form [PDF, 204Kb], attach the original account and receipt and lodge at your private health fund office. Your private health fund will then send your in-hospital claim to us on your behalf.
Or, you can fill in a Medicare two-way claim form, attach the original account and receipt and lodge the in-hospital claim at your local Medicare office. We will pay any rebate owing to you then send the rest of your claim to your private health fund for payment.
More information, including and a list of private health care funds that offer this service is available on the Medicare two-way page.
Register your bank account details with us today for quick and easy payment into your nominated bank account by EFT.
Bulk bill
If you are bulk billed you don’t need to claim from Medicare as the doctor will bill Medicare directly.
Bulk-billing is when the doctor bills Medicare directly, accepting the Medicare benefit as full payment for the service. Your doctor cannot make any additional charge for a service, nor can any other person or company. This means if your doctor bulk bills, you cannot be charged for additional items such as a booking fee, administration fee, for bandages or record keeping, however there may be additional charges for certain vaccines.
Many doctors bulk bill some of their patients such concession card holders. If your doctor bulk bills, you will be asked to sign a completed form after the service and will be given a copy. If your doctor offers Medicare Easyclaim (a system which lets practice staff lodge your claim with us electronically), you will be asked to assign your benefit to the doctor by pressing ‘OK’ on the EFTPOS terminal.
There are circumstances where more than one service can be provided during the same visit and your doctor is not required to bulk bill each service.
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Last updated: 9 October, 2008