Medicare - Topic - Page 3 of 4

How to enrol in Medicare

To enrol in Medicare, there are 3 steps: Once you have enrolled in Medicare, you will be given a Medicare Card, which looks like this: It usually takes 3-4 weeks for Medicare to send out your card.

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What does private health insurance cover that Medicare doesn’t?

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...

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What is the Medicare Safety Net?

Medicare Safety Net explained The 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...

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How is Medicare funded?

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...

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How to claim a Medicare Benefit

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 office The quickest and easiest way to claim your Medicare Benefit is when you pay for the service at your doctor or healthcare...

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What is a Medicare Rebate?

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.

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What are Medicare Benefits?

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.

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How to apply for a Medicare Card

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

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