Medicare Safety Net
The Practitioners practicing at GHFP centres are dedicated to providing high quality health care to their patients. A tailored, sustainable billing model in place to ensure that the centres and the practitioner’s businesses can remain viable and continue to provide high quality care to our community. The practitioner’s private fees reflect the cost of the time, training, infrastructure and resources required to ensure ongoing provision of high quality health care.
For a long time now, General Practice MBS rebates have been 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 significant, and that this can contribute to financial strain for individuals, couples and families.
What is the Medicare Safety Net?
We encourage patients to register for the Medicare Safety Net to help to lower your out-of-pocket costs. The 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. 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 Net. You don’t need to register if you’re an individual with no dependents as 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 (MS016) which can be downloaded from the Medicare website: https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/ms016.
Confirming your family members when you reach the Safety Net Threshold each year
Although you only need to register your partner and dependents as part of your family once, to receive your additional benefits you will also need to confirm your family members when you reach the Safety Net Threshold each year. You can only confirm once you're nearing the threshold, and you simply use the MS016 form again.
