How to Find Bulk Billed Services
It seems like it’s getting harder and harder to find bulk-billed medical centres in Australia. Keeping your health in check is so important to achieving a happy, healthy life. So if you have had trouble finding a cheap doctor near you, we’ll tell you how to find bulk billed services and keep those medical costs at bay.
Overview:
- What is bulk billing and how does it work?
- Where to find bulk billing services in Australia
- Who is eligible?
- How much do doctors get paid for bulk billing?
- What is the bulk billing incentive?
- Is bulk billing ending in Australia?
What is bulk billing and how does it work?
Bulk billing means that the government covers the cost of seeing a doctor, so patients can attend appointments with health professionals for free. If doctors choose to accept bulk billing then they get paid at a set rate, generally significantly less than what they could earn if they billed patients directly.
Does Medicare provide bulk billing?
Medicare oversees bulk billing in Australia. So you will need a Medicare card to receive bulk billing.
Learn more about what Medicare covers: Medicare vs Private Health Insurance
Where to find bulk billing services in Australia
1. Call/email the practice
Even if you find the medical service another way, it’s still good to check with the actual service provider before you book an appointment as information can be incorrect or out of date.
2. Healthdirect website
You can use the Health Direct Service Finder to find health practitioners in your area. Once you select a service and enter your suburb or postcode you can choose to filter the results by bulk billed only.
As with the other options, it’s still a good idea to check with the service provider before visiting as the information could be out of date.
3. Healthengine app
You can easily find bulk-billed GPs through the Healthengine app. You can also book and cancel appointments through the app. While the service has a lot of medical centres, health clinics, and specialists, not all practices will be listed in the app directory.
4. Google Maps
Google Maps is a handy tool for finding a list of bulk bill doctors near you. The results mostly rely on people mentioning bulk billing in reviews, and may not be 100% accurate. So you should still check the website or contact the business to make sure.
Who is eligible?
You can access bulking billing in Australia if you are enrolled in Medicare and visit a health professional who offers bulk billing.
Even if your doctor doesn’t bulk bill, you are still eligible to claim back some of the cost. You do this by asking reception to submit a Medicare benefit claim on your behalf when you pay – you can also submit a claim yourself later if you forget. Medicare will then pay you the amount listed in the Medicare Benefits Schedule for that particular health service. So you won’t have to bear the full cost of the appointment yourself.
Do dentists bulk bill?
On the whole, you cannot bulk bill dental services in Australia. There are some exceptions to this with free or discounted dental work through public dental clinics for children under 17 (under the Child Dental Benefits Schedule) plus veterans and pensioners/seniors with the relevant concession card.
If you are not eligible for bulk building or your doctor does not offer it, check out some other dental financing options available in Australia.
How much do doctors get paid for bulk billing?
The amount a doctor gets paid will depend on the fee listed in the Medicare Benefits Schedule at the time and whether they are also eligible for the bulk billing incentive. Medicare pays 100% of the fee for general practitioners but will only cover 85% of the schedule fee for specialists.
What is the bulk billing incentive?
Bulk billing incentive payments are offered in addition to the Medicare benefit. They are used to encourage medical practitioners to offer more affordable medical services to certain groups of people who may struggle with the cost of accessing treatment. For example, children under 16, people with a Commonwealth concession card, and people in rural and remote locations.
Is bulk billing ending in Australia?
Bulk billing is not ending in Australia but if you have struggled to find a medical practice that offers bulk billing, you’re not alone. Many of the services we have come to rely on, like subsidised health care, have been eroding in recent years.
Like many other subsidies and government programs, the Medicare rebate has not kept up with inflation. Inflation isn’t the only problem though, bulk billing rates have been falling since the Medicare freeze that began in 2013.
Why are doctors not bulk billing anymore?
The cost of operating a medical practice is going up, which means doctors are having to charge more to cover costs. This means fewer and fewer are able to offer bulk billing, so more people have to pay out of pocket to access basic medical services, like GP visits.
For a short while in late 2023, bulk billing rates were on the rise for the first time in a decade. The government tripled the incentive, which meant more people were able to access the rebate. Sadly, this was a short-lived victory for Aussies. Recent budget changes mean GPs now need to pay more tax and this cost is again being passed onto patients.
