Health care costs
Medical expenses can add up quickly when you have a family. Information on options for lowering those costs.
Medicare Safety Nets
Medicare Safety Nets is a threshold amount for out of pocket medical expenses.
Once the threshold is reached, you automatically get higher Medicare benefits back for the cost of certain services.
You can register as a family for Medicare Safety Nets to combine your costs. This means you’re more likely to reach the threshold sooner.
Health care and concession cards
You may be able to get a health care card or concession card to help lower the cost of health services and medicine.
Your eligibility will depend on your personal situation and if you get an income support payment.
Types of health care and concession cards include:
- Health Care Card – if you get the Parenting Payment (partnered), Carer Allowance, Carer Payment or the maximum rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A. You may also be eligible if you're studying and get certain payments
- Pensioner Concession Card – if you get the Parenting Payment (single) or a Carer Payment
- Foster Child Health Care Card – if you’re a foster carer or care for someone else’s child
- Low Income Health Care Card – for those on a low income
- Veteran Card from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Other medical expenses
There are other medical expenses that you may be able to get help with, including:
- Child Dental Benefits Schedule – covers all or part of the cost of basic dental services for children under 18 if you or your child get certain income support payments
- Cleft Lip and Cleft Palate Scheme – Medicare benefits for certain dental treatments for children with cleft lip and cleft palate conditions
- EnableNSW – equipment and services for those eligible who live with chronic health conditions or disability.