PBS prescriptions: co-payments and the Safety Net

Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme)Verified 22 Oct 2026Official pages checked daily

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is the Australian Government's subsidy for prescription medicines. If the medicine is on the PBS list and you have a Medicare card, you pay only a capped co-payment and the government pays the rest. From 1 January 2026, general patients pay at most A$25.00 per prescription and concession card holders at most A$7.70. Once your co-payments in a calendar year reach the Safety Net threshold, medicines are cheaper or even free for the rest of the year. People without Medicare pay the full price.

Key facts

Maximum co-payment for general patients: A$25.00 for all of 2026 (reduced from A$31.60 on 1 January 2026). After that it is adjusted for CPI each 1 January³
Maximum co-payment for concession card holders: A$7.70, frozen until 1 January 2030. Concession cards are Commonwealth cards: the Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, PBS Safety Net card, and DVA Gold, White and Orange cards³
Safety Net thresholds for 2026: A$1,748.20 for general patients; A$277.20 for concession card holders (not increased in 2026)¹
After you reach the Safety Net: For the rest of that calendar year, general patients pay the concession price for PBS medicines and concession card holders get them free (extra charges such as brand premiums still apply). Co-payments only count if they are recorded on a Prescription Record Form (form PB240)²
Counted as a family: The Safety Net adds up across your family: you, your spouse, children under 16 in your care, and dependent full-time students under 25⁵
60-day prescriptions: For stable, ongoing conditions, the prescribing doctor can assess you as suitable and write a 60-day prescription, which gives you double the quantity on one prescription. General patients save up to A$150.00 per medicine per year, and concession card holders up to A$46.20. You do not need a concession card³
How long a prescription is valid: A PBS prescription is valid for 12 months from the date it is written⁵
Who can use the PBS: Australian residents with a valid Medicare card, and visitors from RHCA countries (the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Malta, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Belgium and Slovenia). Show your Medicare card every time you fill a prescription; if you cannot, you may have to pay the full price⁵
Medicines not on the PBS: You pay the full price on a private prescription. The government does not subsidise it and it does not count towards the Safety Net. Prices can differ between pharmacies⁵
Brand premium: Some original brands carry a brand premium. Community pharmacies must charge it on top of the co-payment, and it does not count towards the Safety Net. Unless the doctor has written 'brand substitution not permitted', you can ask the pharmacist for a cheaper equivalent brand⁵
Extra charges on cheaper medicines: When the medicine costs less than the general co-payment, the pharmacy may add a Safety Net recording fee of up to A$1.48 and an additional patient charge of up to A$2.79, but the total cannot exceed A$25.00. Concession card holders do not pay these two charges²
Urgent supply: In an emergency (where state law allows), a doctor can phone the pharmacy so it supplies the medicine first, and then send the written prescription to the pharmacy within 7 days of supply⁶

Who is this for, and what are the requirements?

Anyone with a valid Medicare card (green or blue) pays PBS prices.
Visitors from RHCA countries can use the PBS as general patients by showing their passport or RHCA card. Check whether your country is on the RHCA list; China, for example, is not.
To pay the concession price (A$7.70) you need a Commonwealth concession card as well as your Medicare card. Seniors Cards issued by a state do not count.
People without Medicare (most temporary visa holders) pay the full price for prescription medicines.
60-day prescriptions: people with a stable, ongoing condition whom a doctor has assessed as suitable and given a new 60-day prescription. No concession card is needed.

How do I do it? Steps and process

Get a prescription from your doctor
Your GP or specialist writes a PBS prescription showing the quantity and the number of repeats (how many times it can be refilled). If you have a stable, ongoing condition, ask whether you can have a 60-day prescription.
Take your cards to the pharmacy
Show your Medicare card every time, together with your concession card if you have one. Otherwise you may be charged the full price. With your consent, the pharmacy can record your Medicare number so you do not need to show the card each time.
Pay the co-payment and ask about cheaper brands
Pay the capped co-payment (A$25.00 general, A$7.70 concession). Prices differ between pharmacies, so you can compare. Original brands may carry a brand premium; ask the pharmacist to swap to a cheaper equivalent brand.
Record your Safety Net total
Ask the pharmacy to record each co-payment on a Prescription Record Form (form PB240), or in the pharmacy's system. If you use different pharmacies, keep the form yourself. It is easiest to stick to one pharmacy.
Apply for a Safety Net card when you reach the threshold
Once your co-payments for the year reach the threshold, the pharmacy issues a Safety Net card. For the rest of that year, general patients pay the concession price and concession card holders get PBS medicines free.
Use your repeats before they expire
A prescription is valid for 12 months from the date it is written, and repeats must be filled within that time. After that you need a new prescription from your doctor.

What documents do I need?

Medicare card (show it every time you fill a prescription)
Concession card, if you have one (Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and others)
Your doctor's prescription
PBS/RPBS Safety Net Prescription Record Form (form PB240) to record your Safety Net total

What should I watch out for?

Many PBS medicines actually cost far more than the co-payment; the government pays the difference. Medicines priced below the co-payment are priced by each pharmacy, so compare.
Brand premiums and private prescriptions for medicines not on the PBS do not count towards the Safety Net. Choosing the cheaper equivalent brand saves the most.
The optional small discount that pharmacies could give has ended for general patients from 2026 and is being reduced each year for concession card holders.
If your family uses different pharmacies, keep the PB240 form yourself. Missed entries mean you may reach the threshold without getting a Safety Net card.
If you urgently need medicine and cannot see a doctor, the doctor can phone the pharmacy to supply it first. Some states also allow pharmacists to supply medicines in an emergency under certain conditions; the rules differ by state, so ask the pharmacist.
International students and work visa holders without Medicare pay the full price. Check whether your OSHC or OVHC policy covers medicines.
This page is a plain-English summary of public information. Check pbs.gov.au and your pharmacy for details. It is not medical advice.

What has changed recently?

2030-01-01
On 1 January 2030, the freeze on the A$7.70 concession co-payment ends, and it is adjusted for CPI after that. Coming soonSource: health.gov.au ↗
2027-01-01
From 1 January 2027, the general co-payment returns to CPI adjustment each 1 January. Coming soonSource: pbs.gov.au ↗
2026-01-01
From 1 January 2026, the general PBS co-payment fell from A$31.60 to A$25.00. The concession co-payment stays frozen at A$7.70. The general Safety Net threshold is now A$1,748.20 and the concession threshold stays at A$277.20.Source: health.gov.au ↗

Common questions

How much do prescription medicines cost in Australia?

If the medicine is on the PBS list and you have a Medicare card, you pay only a capped co-payment: in 2026, at most A$25.00 per prescription for general patients and A$7.70 for Commonwealth concession card holders. The government pays the rest. Medicines priced below the co-payment are priced by each pharmacy. Medicines not on the PBS are full price on a private prescription, and people without Medicare pay full price.

With Medicare, is every medicine capped at A$25?

Only medicines on the PBS list: general patients pay at most A$25.00 per prescription and concession card holders at most A$7.70. Some original brands carry a brand premium on top of the co-payment; you can ask the pharmacist for a cheaper equivalent brand. Medicines not on the PBS are full price on a private prescription. Show your Medicare card every time, or you may be charged the full price.

What is the PBS Safety Net and how does it work?

Once your PBS co-payments in a calendar year reach the threshold, general patients pay the concession price and concession card holders get PBS medicines free for the rest of that year. In 2026 the threshold is A$1,748.20 for general patients and A$277.20 for concession card holders, counted across your family. Co-payments only count if recorded on form PB240 or in the pharmacy's system; the pharmacy then issues a Safety Net card. Brand premiums and private prescriptions do not count.

What is a 60-day prescription and how do I get one?

A 60-day prescription gives you double the quantity on one prescription. It is for stable, ongoing conditions: the prescribing doctor must assess you as suitable and write a new 60-day prescription, so ask your doctor. No concession card is needed. General patients save up to A$150.00 per medicine per year, and concession card holders up to A$46.20.

How long is a prescription valid? What is a repeat?

A PBS prescription is valid for 12 months from the date it is written. A repeat is the number of times the prescription can be refilled, shown on the prescription. Repeats must be filled within those 12 months; after that you need a new prescription from your doctor.

Why does the same medicine cost different amounts at different pharmacies?

PBS medicines priced below the co-payment, and private prescriptions for medicines not on the PBS, are priced by each pharmacy, so prices differ and you can compare. On cheaper medicines a pharmacy may also add a Safety Net recording fee of up to A$1.48 and an additional patient charge of up to A$2.79, but the total cannot exceed A$25.00; concession card holders do not pay these. Brand premiums on original brands also change the price.

I'm an international student without Medicare. Do I pay full price for medicines?

Yes. People without Medicare, including most temporary visa holders, pay the full price for prescription medicines with no government subsidy. Check whether your OSHC policy covers medicines. Visitors from RHCA countries can use the PBS as general patients by showing a passport or RHCA card; check whether your country is on the RHCA list.

I've run out of medicine and can't see a doctor in time. Can the pharmacy supply it first?

Possibly. In an emergency, where state law allows, your doctor can phone the pharmacy so it supplies the medicine first and then send the written prescription within 7 days of supply. Some states also allow pharmacists to supply medicines in an emergency under certain conditions, but the rules differ by state, so ask the pharmacist.

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

Where can I check the official information?

Fees, Patient Contributions and Safety Net ThresholdsPharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing) · pbs.gov.au
What are the current patient fees and charges?Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing) · pbs.gov.au
PBS co-paymentsDepartment of Health, Disability and Ageing · health.gov.au
Eligibility for 60-day prescriptionsDepartment of Health, Disability and Ageing · health.gov.au
PBS Frequently Asked QuestionsPharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing) · pbs.gov.au
2. Prescribing Medicines – Information for PBS PrescribersPharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (Department of Health, Disability and Ageing) · pbs.gov.au

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

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