Organization : Department of Human Services
Facility : Medicare Card
Country : Australia
Website : https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/medicare/medicare-card#group-220
Human Services Medicare Card
The card lets people get a range of medical services and prescriptions at a lower cost, and free care as a public patient in a public hospital.
Related : Department of Human Service Pension Bonus Scheme Australia : www.statusin.org/25916.html
Eligibility
** live in Australia or Norfolk Island
** be enrolled in Medicare
And, you must be either :
** an Australian citizen
** a New Zealand citizen
** an Australian permanent resident
** applying for permanent residency – conditions apply
** covered by a Ministerial Order, or
** a Resident Return visa holder
You may also get a Medicare card if you’re visiting from a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement country.
If you live on an Australian dependency island :
You’re eligible for Medicare services you get in Australia if you can give us evidence you’re a citizen or permanent resident of :
** Cocos (Keeling) Islands
** Christmas Island
** Lord Howe Island
Note :
If you’re an Unauthorised Maritime Arrival on a Bridging visa or hold a Temporary Protection or Safe Haven Enterprise visa, you must read our important Medicare update.
Enrol
To enrol or re-enrol, all people over the age of 15 must visit a service centre.
You should :
** check if you’re eligible for a Medicare card
** find the information you need to enrol, if you think you’re eligible
The way to enrol a newborn is different. Read about adding a newborn to your Medicare card.
Information You Need to Enrol
You’ll need your bank account details. This is so we can pay your Medicare benefits directly into your account.
We’ll need other information if you’re :
** a permanent resident
** applying for permanent residency
** visiting Australia
** a New Zealand citizen living in Australia
** an Australian or New Zealand citizen or permanent resident returning to live in Australia
** enrolling an adopted child
** an Australian citizen who’s never been enrolled
Permanent Residents
For each person you want to enrol, you need to give us a :
** passport, travel document or Immicard, and
** visa from the Department of Home Affairs confirming permanent residency
Permanent Residency Applicants
For each person you want to enrol, you need to give us a :
** passport, travel document or Immicard
** valid visa, and
** proof from the Department of Home Affairs you’ve submitted a valid permanent residency application
How to use Your Medicare Card?
You can use your Medicare card to make a claim for Medicare benefits when you visit a doctor, or are treated as a public patient in a public hospital.
You can also use your Medicare card to get cheaper Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme medicines at a pharmacy. Your Medicare card must be current to claim benefits. We’ll replace your card before it expires.
Make sure we have your current details so we can send your new Medicare card to you. Destroy your old card when you get your new one. We’ll cancel your old card when we issue your new card.