Medicare covered services
MedicarePlus Safety Net available now
All Australians are now protected against big, cumulative medical bills for Medicare services provided outside hospital, including specialist consultations and, according to information from Medicare, outpatient IVF services.
The MedicarePlus Safety Net will pay 80 percent of the out of pocket costs for Medicare services provided out of hospital for:
- Families and individuals covered by a Commonwealth concession card or receiving Family Tax Benefit (A) once their out-of-pocket, out of hospital expenses exceed $555.70 in a calendar year.
- Other individuals and families, once their out of pocket, out of hospital expenses exceed $1,111.60 in a calendar year.
Individuals and registered families can find out what medical costs they have already incurred this year by contacting their local Medicare office.
For safety net purposes a family consists of:
- a couple legally married and not separated, or a man and a woman in a de facto relationship - with or without dependent children
- a single person with dependent children - under 16 years or a full-time student under 25 years whom you support.
Families should register with Medicare for the MedicarePlus Safety Net. This will ensure that the relevant costs of all family members count toward the safety net thresholds.
Once you register for the MedicarePlus Safety Net, Medicare will keep a tally of out-of-hospital expenses for you. If you reach one of the safety net thresholds you can receive higher Medicare benefits for the rest of the calendar year.
For more information: