Explainer: How can I get higher Medicare rebates and what is the extended safety net?

With bulk-billing GPs becoming harder to find, many of the most vulnerable are delaying medical care or are being forced to make tough choices between paying for healthcare, groceries and bills.

But a GP based in Victoria, Dr Sara Marzouk, said many families and couples are not aware that they could be eligible to be reimbursed by Medicare at a higher rate, cutting their out-of-pocket costs.

In order to qualify for the Extended Medicare Safety Net, they need to register their family unit with Services Australia, even if all family members are on the same Medicare card.

So how does it work?

The Extended Medicare Safety Net is designed for individuals and families who have high out-of-pocket medical costs, perhaps because they have a chronic disease or a complicated condition.

Once you reach a certain amount in out-of-pocket medical fees each calendar year, the extended safety net kicks in, which means you will get a higher rebate back from the government for Medicare services from that point.

Marzouk said bulk billing is on the decline because doctors are increasingly charging fees due to the Medicare rebate being insufficient for practices to remain viable.

If you are an individual with no dependants, Medicare keeps a tally of out-of-pocket costs you have paid and once the threshold is reached, you will receive the higher benefit for the rest of the year. This is why it is important to check your Medicare records to ensure you are being billed correctly by your medical practitioner.

Individuals without a concession card hit the threshold at $2,249.80 in out-of-pocket services.

Then, when your family is close to reaching the threshold, Services Australia will notify the nominated contact person for the family either by a myGov message or by post, and ask for confirmation of who is in the family so you can start receiving the increased rebate.

Marzouk said if at least two people in the registered Extended Medicare Safety Net family have an eligible concession card, or if the family is eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A, the safety net threshold is $717.90. And one of those two concession card holders must be the primary Medicare card contact.

While your GP visits and tests will still cost the same upfront, once you reach the safety net thresholds, the amount you receive back from Medicare after you have paid will be higher.

Out-of-hospital services with your GP and specialists will count, as will some tests and scans like blood tests and CT scans.