Hands up if you’ve got a Medicare card? Congratulations. You’re a paid up member of one of the luckiest countries in the world.

Our health care system is one of the best on the planet. If you’re sick you get access to free or low cost health care. Sure, it’s paid for by taxpayers, but it means that whatever your income, you are going to be well looked after. How good is that?

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Who has a Medicare card?

All Australian and New Zealand citizens, plus any permanent residents can get access to Medicare.

What’s bulk billing?

Sometimes your doctor won’t ask you to contribute anything to the costs of your consultation. This is called Bulk Billing. It means the doctor will bill Medicare for the full cost of your treatment. Not every doctor offers bulk billing. Some doctors will only bulk bill certain patients, such as children or the elderly. You’ll have to ask at reception when you make your doctor’s appointment if they bulk bill or not.

When you’re bulk billed, you’ll be asked to sign a form confirming that you received the treatment, and then Bob’s your uncle. That’s it. Nothing to pay.

But if they don’t bulk bill you, you’ll be asked to pay for your appointment. But don’t worry.  You can claim these costs back through Medicare yourself. If you have a Medicare Online Account and register your bank details you can even make a claim for many benefits online or have the claim automatically refunded when you pay at the doctor’s office.

Depending on the type of consultation and the service involved  You might get some or even all of these costs back.

Bulk billing. Advance Australia Fair.