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Content last updated 28/03/2024

MyMedicare

What is MyMedicare?

MyMedicare is a voluntary patient registration system that aims to formalise the relationship between the patient, general practice, and preferred general practitioner (GPs).

Evidence shows that seeing the same GP and healthcare team regularly leads to better health outcomes.

When a general practice signs up to accept MyMedicare registrations and patients register with the practice, the Australian Government will provide additional funding to assist the general practice to provide targeted care based on the patient needs.

This funding will enable registered GPs to provide longer funded telehealth consultations and bulk billed longer telehealth consultations for children under 16 and Commonwealth concession card holders at the new triple billing rate.

If a patient is an aged care resident and is registered in MyMedicare, their healthcare provider will receive additional incentives to provide proactive care through regular visits and care planning.

What are the benefits of registering?

By registering as a patient, additional funding becomes available to your healthcare provider to deliver the care you need.

Eligible patients who register with their preferred practice may benefit from:

  • longer MBS-funded telephone consultations, from 1 November 2023
  • longer bulk billed telehealth consultations for children under 16 and Commonwealth concession card holders at the new triple bulk billing rate, from 1 November 2023

Other benefits for patients include may include (for participating practices):

  • more regular visits from their GP and better care planning for people living in a Residential Aged Care Home, from August 2024
  • connections to more appropriate care in general practice for people with chronic conditions who visit hospital frequently, from mid-2024.

Formalising the patient-practice relationship, with MyMedicare, has been shown to improve health and wellbeing.

Am I eligible?

Eligibility

  • MyMedicare is open to Australians with a Medicare card or a DVA Veteran Card and is voluntary.
  • If you have a valid Medicare card or Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Veteran card and have had two face-to-face consultations with your preferred practice in the last 24 months, you are eligible for MyMedicare.

Exemptions

  • People who are facing hardship are exempt from all eligibility requirements. This includes people experiencing domestic and family violence and homelessness.
  • Parents/guardians and children can be registered at the same practice if either is eligible and registered. A parent/guardian must register a child under 14 years and provide consent on their behalf and this registration will need to be completed at the practice. Young people aged 14 to 17 years can register and provide consent without a parent/guardian.

How do I register?

From 1 October 2023, eligible patients can:

  • Start the registration process in your Medicare Online Account or Express Plus Medicare Mobile app. Practice staff will then accept the registration in the MyMedicare system.
  • Your practice may start the registration in MyMedicare or you can ask them to do this. This will trigger a registration in your Medicare Online Account or Express Plus Medicare Mobile app, which you can then complete.
  • Fill out a registration form at your practice. By signing the form, you are giving your consent to participate in MyMedicare with that practice. Practice staff will then complete the registration in the MyMedicare system.

Where can I go for more information?

MyMedicare Introduction Video: Watch (an introductory video to learn more about MyMedicare

Patient Eligibility and Registration Factsheet: Read this factsheet to learn more about patient eligibility and the steps required to register with your preferred practice and practitioner

Registering as an Aged Care Home Resident: If you live in a Residential Aged Care Home, you can register for MyMedicare by completing a registration form provided by your GP or through your Medicare Online Account. You don’t need to physically attend a practice to complete your registration. Residents of Residential Aged Care Homes will benefit from registering in MyMedicare, with new incentives being introduced in 2024 to support more regular proactive visits and care planning from GPs and practices. Read this MyMedicare Frequently Asked Questions Factsheet for further information.

Withdrawing Patient Registration: You can choose to change or withdraw from MyMedicare at any time. Read this factsheet to withdraw and/or choose an alternative preferred practice to register with.