💡 Could You Be Paying Less for Your Healthcare?

A little-known Medicare tip that could help you and your family save on healthcare costs.

If you or your family have regular medical appointments or prescription medicines, it’s worth knowing about the Medicare Safety Net and PBS Safety Net.

🩺 Medicare Safety Net

The Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs for eligible out-of-hospital medical services once you reach the annual threshold.

If you’re part of a couple or family, you can register as a Medicare Safety Net family so your eligible costs can be combined. This may help you reach the threshold sooner. Even if everyone is on the same Medicare card, you still need to register.

For 2026, the EMSN thresholds are:

• $2,699.10 – general patients

• $861.20 – concession cardholders and families eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A

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Once you reach the relevant threshold, you may receive a higher Medicare benefit for eligible services for the rest of the calendar year.

💊 PBS Safety Net

The PBS Safety Net may also help if you or your family have significant prescription medicine costs throughout the year.

For 2026, the thresholds are:

• $1,748.20 – general patients

• $277.20 – concession cardholders

  
  

Once you reach the threshold, you may pay less for eligible PBS medicines for the remainder of the calendar year. General patients can pay up to $7.70 per PBS medicine, while eligible concession cardholders may receive PBS medicines at no charge, subject to applicable premiums.

📅 Remember — it resets each year

Both Safety Net schemes are calculated over the calendar year (1 January–31 December) and reset each January.

You can check your Medicare Safety Net progress through your Medicare online account linked to myGov or the myGov app.

✅ Our tip for patients

If you or your family have regular medical appointments or prescription costs, it’s worth checking whether you are registered for the Safety Net schemes.

It could save you money over the course of the year.

📚 Want to know more?

For the most up-to-date information, eligibility requirements, thresholds and registration details, visit the official Services Australia website:

Medicare Safety Nets – Services Australia

How to register for Medicare Safety Nets – Services Australia

PBS Safety Net thresholds – Services Australia

Glenorie District Medical Centre is committed to helping our patients understand their healthcare options and make the most of the services available to them.

Information is current as at August 2026. Safety Net thresholds, eligibility and Medicare benefits may change. Please refer to Services Australia for the most current information.