MyMedicare and your regular GP

MyMedicare is an Australian Government program that lets you formally register with the general practice you usually attend, and nominate a preferred GP. It's free and voluntary. This guide summarises how it works, based on information from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and Services Australia. Program details can change, so always check the official pages linked below.

This is general information, not medical or financial advice.

What MyMedicare is for

The idea behind MyMedicare is continuity of care: having a regular practice and GP who know your history and coordinate your care. According to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, registering helps your practice understand who its regular patients are, and gives you access to some services linked to registration.

What registering can mean for you

Based on government information, benefits of registration include:

• a formal link with your regular practice and preferred GP;
• access to some longer Medicare-funded telehealth consultations with your registered practice;
• support for practices to plan and coordinate care for their regular patients.

Registering doesn't stop you seeing other GPs or practices. You can still go elsewhere when you need to, for example when travelling or visiting an urgent care clinic.

Who can register

According to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, to register you generally need:

• a Medicare card or a DVA Veteran Card;
• to have had face-to-face visits with the practice; the department says generally two face-to-face visits with the practice in the past 24 months, with some exemptions.

Check the current eligibility requirements on the official pages, as they may change.

How to register

Services Australia describes several ways to register, which may include:

• through your Medicare online account via myGov;
• through the Express Plus Medicare mobile app;
• with help from your practice, which can start the registration for you to accept;
• using a paper registration form.

Your practice must also be registered for MyMedicare. Ask your practice if it participates.

Changing or leaving

You can update your preferred GP, change practices or withdraw from MyMedicare. Check Services Australia for how to do this.

MyMedicare and telehealth

Medicare telehealth rules generally require that you have an established relationship with the GP or practice, such as a face-to-face service in the previous 12 months, with some exceptions. The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing notes that MyMedicare registration provides another pathway for eligible patients to access some telehealth services with their registered practice. See telehealth appointments.

Is MyMedicare the same as bulk billing?

No. MyMedicare is about registering with a regular practice. Bulk billing is about how a service is billed. A practice decides its own billing policy. Ask your practice whether your appointments will be bulk billed. See bulk billing explained.

Questions to ask your practice

• Does the practice participate in MyMedicare?
• Can you help me register?
• Which services are linked to registration here?
• Will my appointments be bulk billed?

Why continuity of care matters

Research and health policy in Australia have long emphasised the value of a "usual" GP or practice. When one practice holds your history, it can track trends over time, recall you for preventive care such as screening and immunisations, coordinate referrals, and reduce the chance of duplicated tests or conflicting medicines. MyMedicare formalises that relationship. It doesn't change your right to choose where you get care, but it gives your practice a clearer picture of who it is responsible for, and gives you a clearer picture of where your main health record lives.

Keeping track of your own health information

It's useful to keep your own record of key health information: your conditions, medicines, allergies, vaccinations, test results and the names of your GP and specialists. You can keep a paper folder, a note on your phone, or use My Health Record, the Australian Government's online summary of your health information. My Health Record can hold information such as prescription and dispensing records, pathology and imaging reports, and hospital discharge summaries, depending on what your health providers upload. You can access it through myGov and control some privacy settings. Having this information to hand makes appointments, and especially appointments with new providers, much smoother.

Living in a rural or remote area

Access to health care can be harder outside cities. Waiting times may be longer, distances greater and services fewer. Some things that can help:

• plan routine appointments well ahead and book follow-ups before you leave;
• ask whether telehealth is available for suitable appointments;
• check whether your area has visiting specialists, outreach clinics or a Royal Flying Doctor Service clinic;
• ask about patient travel assistance schemes, which state and territory governments run to help with the cost of travelling long distances for specialist care.

In an emergency, wherever you are, call Triple Zero (000).

Tips for older people

If you're older or have several health conditions, appointments can involve a lot of information. Consider:

• booking a longer appointment so there's time to cover everything;
• asking your GP about a medication review, especially if you take several medicines;
• asking about health assessments that may be available for older people;
• bringing a family member or friend for support;
• asking for written information you can read later.

If getting to the practice is hard, ask about telehealth, home visits or community transport options in your area.

Common misunderstandings

A few things people often get wrong:

• "Every GP must bulk bill." No. Practices decide their own billing policies, so always ask.
• "I can only see one GP." You can see any GP, although seeing a regular GP supports continuity of care.
• "A short appointment is always enough." If you have several issues, book a longer appointment.
• "I shouldn't bother the doctor with small things." If something is worrying you, it's reasonable to ask.
• "Online information is as good as a consultation." Reliable websites like healthdirect are helpful, but they don't replace advice from a health professional who knows your situation.

Veterans and DVA cardholders

If you hold a Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) card, tell the practice when you book and bring your card. DVA arrangements for health services differ from standard Medicare arrangements, and many providers bill DVA directly for eligible services. Ask the practice how it handles DVA patients. DVA's own website and its phone line can explain what your card covers. MyMedicare registration is also open to DVA Veteran Card holders, according to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services provide comprehensive, culturally safe primary health care in many communities, and some mainstream practices have Aboriginal health workers or practitioners on their team. When you register with a practice, you can choose to tell it that you identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. This can help you access services designed for you, such as specific health checks. Telling the practice is your choice.

How we keep this guide up to date

Medicare rules, government programs and service arrangements change from time to time. We review this guide against the official sources listed below and update the date at the top of the page when we check it. If something has changed, or you spot an error, please let us know through our contact page. Before you rely on any detail, especially eligibility rules, check the official page linked in the sources, or ask your practice or Services Australia directly.

Key points

• MyMedicare is free and voluntary.
• It links you with a regular practice and preferred GP.
• Eligibility generally includes face-to-face visits with the practice.
• You can register through myGov, the Medicare app or with help from your practice.
• You can still see other GPs.