Medicare Safety Net - have you registered?

Private Billings

The Practitioners at GHFP are dedicated to providing high quality health care to their patients.

GHFP has a tailored, sustainable billing model in place to ensure that the practice and the Practitioner’s businesses can remain viable and continue to provide high quality care to our community. Our Practitioner’s private fees reflect the cost of the time, training, infrastructure and resources required to ensure ongoing provision of high quality health care at our practice.

Our Practitioner’s private fees reflect both the practice costs (including staff salaries, facilities, equipment, rent, insurances and consumables) and the professional costs of the individual practitioner (including insurances and continued professional development).

General Practice MBS rebates are vastly inadequate and are not indicative of the value and cost of providing general practice services. We recognise that the gap (out-of-pocket) cost of health care to patients is rising, and that this can contribute to financial strain for individuals, couples and families.

We encourage our patients to register for the Medicare Safety Net to help to lower your out-of-pocket costs. We also encourage our patients to communicate with governments regarding the inadequacy of the Medicare rebates.

What is the Medicare Safety Net?

The Medicare Safety Net ensures that when you spend over a certain amount in a calendar year, Medicare will refund you a higher amount. The Safety Net is calculated each calendar year 1st January to 31st December. If you reach the Safety Net your doctor’s visit or test will continue to cost the same, but you will be less out-of-pocket because you will receive a higher rebate from Medicare.

The 2022 Medicare Safety Net thresholds are broken up into categories. Details can be found on Services Australia website: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/what-are-medicare-safety-nets-thresholds?context=22001.

You can check your Medicare Safety Net threshold amount at any time through your Medicare online account or the Express Plus Medicare Mobile app, or by calling Medicare on 132 011.

Registering for the Medicare Safety Net

If you’re enrolled in Medicare, you’re eligible for Medicare Safety Nets.

You don’t need to register if you’re an individual with no dependents. Medicare will register you for Medicare Safety Nets automatically. Medicare keeps a tally of your out of pocket and gap amounts, and will start paying you higher Medicare benefits when you reach a threshold. Medicare will give you more money back for certain services, and will keep paying the higher benefit for the rest of the calendar year.

If you’re part of a family or couple you can combine your costs by registering as a family. This means you’ll be more likely to reach the thresholds sooner. To register simply download and complete the Medicare Safety Net Registration and Amendment for Couples and Families form from the Medicare website: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/ms016