MyMedicare is a voluntary patient registration system to strengthen the bond between patients, their general practice, general practitioner (GP), and primary care teams.
Why MyMedicare matters
Registering for MyMedicare is voluntary, the benefits include:
Enhanced continuity of care
MyMedicare patients enjoy greater continuity of care with your registered practice, leading to improved health outcomes.
Extended MBS-funded telephone calls
Benefit from longer MBS-funded telehealth consultations with your registered practice.
Improved aged care support
Residents of aged care homes can expect more frequent visits from their GP and enhanced care planning starting from August 2024.
Streamlined hospital connections
Connections to more appropriate care in general practice for people who visit hospital frequently, from mid-2024.
MyMedicare patient eligibility
To be eligible for MyMedicare registration, you must have either:
Proven history with practice
If you had a minimum two face-to-face visits at the same medical practice in the last 24 months, you are eligible to register with that practice. For practices in a remote location, only one face-to-face visit in the last 24 months is required.
Family members
Parents/guardians and children can be registered at the same practice if one of them is eligible and registered at the practice. Patients can only be registered with one practice at a time. Eligible visits can be billed through Medicare, DVA, or a combination of both.
Exemptions
Exemptions from all eligibility requirements will apply to individuals facing hardship, including those experiencing domestic and family violence and/or homelessness. A trusted practice or GP can assist with direct registration in MyMedicare.
MyMedicare registration
Register online
Start the registration in your Medicare Online Account or Express Plus Medicare Mobile app. Staff at your nominated practice will accept or decline the registration.
Express Plus Medicare Mobile app
Register at your practice
Practice staff may start your patient registration, or you can ask them for help.
Your GP may ask you to complete a MyMedicare Registration Form. You will complete the form and sign it to provide consent. The practice will complete your registration by entering your details into the MyMedicare system.
To register using a DVA Veteran Card instead of a Medicare card, visit your nominated practice to fill out the registration form.
Children under 14 years will need a parents/guardian to register and provide consent on their behalf. Register children under 14 years at the practice.
Young people aged 14 to 17 years can register and provide consent without a parent/guardian.
MyMedicare registration is only successful when both you and your practice have provided consent to formalise your relationship through one of the processes outlined above.
As part of your MyMedicare registration, your chosen practice and GP will appear on your My Health Record. This will make sure all health professionals you see – for example, at a public hospital – will know who to talk to about your regular care.
If you do not wish your MyMedicare registration to appear on your My Health Record, you can choose this option in your My Health Record.
Talk to your regular general practice or GP about registering in MyMedicare, or download a factsheet from the Department of Health and Aged Care website.