Seeing a GP: bulk billing, costs and Medicare benefits

Services Australia; healthdirect AustraliaVerified 22 Oct 2026Official pages checked daily

In Australia you usually see a GP (general practitioner, or family doctor) first when you are unwell. If the clinic bulk bills, it charges Medicare directly and you pay nothing. If it does not, you pay the full fee first and then claim the Medicare benefit back; the difference (the gap) is your cost. From 1 November 2025 the government extended bulk billing incentives to every patient with Medicare, so more clinics now bulk bill. The easiest thing is to ask 'Do you bulk bill?' when you book.

Key facts

What bulk billing is: The doctor bills Medicare directly and accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment, so you pay nothing. If the doctor does not bulk bill, you pay first and then claim the benefit from Medicare¹
Conditions for being bulk billed: You must be enrolled in Medicare, and the doctor must choose to bulk bill. If you have several services in one visit, not every service may be bulk billed¹
How much Medicare pays back: It is based on the Medicare schedule fee: 100% for GP services, 85% for specialists, and 75% for services while you are a private patient in hospital. Anything the doctor charges above the schedule fee is the gap, or out-of-pocket cost, which you pay¹
Benefit for a standard GP consultation: MBS item 23 (Level B, a consultation at the surgery lasting at least 6 minutes and less than 20 minutes) has a schedule fee of A$45.05, and the Medicare benefit is 100% = A$45.05. Fees were updated on 1 July 2026³
Who the bulk billing incentives cover: MBS bulk billing incentives now cover all Medicare-eligible patients (from 1 November 2025; see the changes below). Clinics in the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program must bulk bill every eligible service for every Medicare patient to receive the extra 12.5% quarterly incentive²
How to recognise a fully bulk billing clinic: Clinics in the programme must be listed as a fully bulk billing practice in healthdirect's National Health Services Directory and display the Medicare Bulk Billing Practice sign. Patients do not need to register for MyMedicare²
healthdirect helpline: 1800 022 222, free (calls from mobiles may cost). Registered nurses answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and help you decide whether to see a GP, care for yourself at home or go to emergency. In Victoria the service is called NURSE-ON-CALL⁴
Interpreters: If English is not your first language and you need an interpreter, call TIS National on 131 450 and ask to be connected to healthdirect⁴
Finding a clinic: Use healthdirect's Service Finder (Find a health service) to find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and more by location. You can also use it to find another GP when your usual clinic is closed⁴
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics: For urgent but not life-threatening problems (minor infections, sprains, minor fractures, urinary tract infections, minor cuts, rashes, gastro, minor burns and similar) when you cannot get in to see a GP. Bulk billed, no appointment needed, open early and late. If life is in danger, call 000 or go to the emergency department⁵
How long a specialist referral lasts: GPs are the main source of referrals. A GP referral is normally valid for 12 months (the doctor can also write 3, 6 or 18 months, or indefinite), counted from your first visit to the specialist. A referral from one specialist to another is valid for only 3 months⁶
Medicare enquiries: 132 011 (Medicare general enquiries)¹

Who is this for, and what are the requirements?

Only people with Medicare (including yellow-card visitors from RHCA countries) can be bulk billed. Whether to bulk bill is the doctor's own choice, not a legal duty.
Temporary visa holders without Medicare (international students, work visa holders and others) pay for GP visits themselves and then claim from their OSHC or OVHC insurer under their policy.
Anyone can use the healthdirect helpline and Service Finder, whatever their visa.
People with Medicare are bulk billed at Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, with no appointment and no referral.

How do I do it? Steps and process

Find a clinic
In healthdirect's Find a health service, choose GP (General practice) and tick the Bulk billing filter. health.gov.au/bulkbilling also has a map of fully bulk billing clinics.
Ask about fees when you book
Ask directly: 'Do you bulk bill?' If not, ask how much the gap is and how much Medicare pays back. Some services in the same visit (for example vaccinations or blood tests) may be charged separately.
Take your Medicare card
Bring your physical card or the digital card in the myGov app. If you do not have Medicare, bring your insurance card and your passport.
The consultation
You can raise more than one problem in one visit. If your English is limited, ask the clinic to arrange an interpreter in advance, or call TIS on 131 450.
Paying and claiming
At a bulk billing clinic you pay nothing; the clinic bills Medicare itself. If the clinic does not bulk bill, you pay first. The clinic can lodge the claim electronically for you on the spot, and the Medicare benefit is paid into the bank account registered with Medicare. You can also claim yourself through your Medicare online account in myGov.
If you need a specialist
Ask your GP for a referral. Medicare only pays the referred rate if you have a referral. A GP referral is normally valid for 12 months, counted from your first visit to the specialist.
When the clinic is closed
Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 and let a nurse assess you. For urgent but not life-threatening problems, go to a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. If life is in danger, call 000.

What documents do I need?

Medicare card (physical card or digital card in the myGov app)
If you do not have Medicare: your OSHC or OVHC insurance card or policy number, and your passport
For a specialist: a referral from your GP
For claims: a bank account registered in your Medicare online account

What should I watch out for?

There is no standard gap fee. Each clinic sets its own, and the same doctor may charge different patients differently, so ask when you book.
The government's Medical Costs Finder shows typical fees and out-of-pocket costs for GPs and specialists.
Register your bank account in your Medicare online account in myGov first, or the benefit cannot be paid to you.
Medicare pays only 85% of the schedule fee for specialists, so the gap is often bigger than for a GP. Ask about fees before you book a specialist.
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics do not handle life-threatening emergencies. For anything serious, call 000 or go to the emergency department.
If you do not have Medicare, read your policy first: what it covers, how much it pays and how to claim. Keep your receipts.
This page is a plain-English summary of public information. Each clinic sets its own fees. It is not medical or legal advice.

What has changed recently?

2026-07-01
From 1 July 2026, MBS fees were adjusted: the schedule fee for a standard GP consultation (item 23) is now A$45.05.Source: www9.health.gov.au ↗
2025-11-01
From 1 November 2025, MBS bulk billing incentives were extended to all Medicare-eligible patients (before this they applied only to children under 16 and Commonwealth concession card holders). The Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program started the same day: clinics that bulk bill every eligible service for every patient receive an extra 12.5% incentive.Source: health.gov.au ↗

Common questions

How much does it cost to see a GP in Australia?

It depends on the clinic. A bulk billing clinic charges Medicare directly and you pay nothing. Otherwise you pay the full fee first and claim the Medicare benefit back; for a standard GP consultation (MBS item 23) Medicare pays A$45.05, and anything above that is a gap you pay. Each clinic sets its own gap, so ask 'Do you bulk bill?' when you book.

What does bulk billing mean? Is it free to see the doctor?

Yes, if you are bulk billed you pay nothing. The doctor bills Medicare directly and accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment. You must be enrolled in Medicare, and the doctor must choose to bulk bill; it is their choice, not a legal duty. If you have several services in one visit, such as a vaccination or blood test, not every service may be bulk billed.

How do I find a bulk billing clinic near me?

Use healthdirect's Find a health service, choose GP (General practice) and tick the Bulk billing filter. health.gov.au/bulkbilling also has a map of fully bulk billing clinics. Clinics in the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program are listed as a fully bulk billing practice in healthdirect's National Health Services Directory and display a Medicare Bulk Billing Practice sign.

How do I claim from Medicare after seeing a doctor, and how much do I get back?

Pay the clinic first, then either let the clinic lodge the claim electronically on the spot or claim yourself through your Medicare online account in myGov. The benefit is paid into the bank account registered with Medicare, so register one first. Medicare pays 100% of the schedule fee for GP services, 85% for specialists and 75% for private patients in hospital; anything above the schedule fee is your cost.

Do I need a GP referral to see a specialist? How long is a referral valid?

Yes. Medicare only pays the referred rate if you have a referral, and GPs are the main source. A GP referral is normally valid for 12 months from your first visit to the specialist, though the doctor can write 3, 6 or 18 months or indefinite. A referral from one specialist to another is valid for only 3 months. Medicare pays only 85% of the schedule fee for specialists, so ask about fees first.

What if I feel unwell at night or on the weekend and the clinic is closed?

Call healthdirect on 1800 022 222. Registered nurses answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and help you decide whether to see a GP, care for yourself at home or go to emergency; in Victoria it is called NURSE-ON-CALL. For urgent but not life-threatening problems, go to a Medicare Urgent Care Clinic, which is bulk billed with no appointment. If life is in danger, call 000.

I'm an international student without Medicare. How do I see a GP?

You pay the clinic yourself and then claim from your OSHC insurer under your policy. Bring your insurance card or policy number and your passport. Read your policy first to see what it covers, how much it pays and how to claim, and keep your receipts. Anyone can use the healthdirect helpline and Service Finder, whatever their visa.

Can I get an interpreter when I see a doctor?

Yes. Ask the clinic to arrange an interpreter in advance, or call TIS National on 131 450. To use the healthdirect helpline with an interpreter, call 131 450 first and ask to be connected to healthdirect.

Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.

Where can I check the official information?

Bulk billing for medical serviceshealthdirect Australia · healthdirect.gov.au
About bulk billing incentives in general practiceDepartment of Health, Disability and Ageing · health.gov.au
Medicare Benefits Schedule - Item 23Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (MBS Online) · www9.health.gov.au
How healthdirect can help youhealthdirect Australia · healthdirect.gov.au
Find your nearest Medicare Urgent Care ClinicDepartment of Health, Disability and Ageing · health.gov.au
Medicare Benefits Schedule - Note GN.6.16 Referral of patients to specialists or consultant physiciansDepartment of Health, Disability and Ageing (MBS Online) · www9.health.gov.au

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The AI answers using this guide and official Australian government websites.

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