If you or members of your family regularly attend medical, specialist or psychology appointments, registering as a Medicare Safety Net family could help you access higher Medicare benefits sooner.
Individuals without dependants are automatically tracked by Medicare. However, couples and families must register to have their eligible out-of-pocket healthcare costs combined – even when everyone is already listed on the same Medicare card.
Why should couples and families register?
Once registered, Medicare combines eligible healthcare expenses across the family. These may include out-of-pocket costs associated with:
- GP appointments
- Specialist consultations
- Medicare-rebatable psychology appointments
- Certain tests, scans and other out-of-hospital services
Combining these expenses may help your family reach the Extended Medicare Safety Net threshold sooner.
After reaching the threshold, Medicare provides the standard Medicare rebate plus an additional benefit for eligible out-of-hospital services for the remainder of the calendar year. This additional benefit is generally the lower of:
- 80% of the remaining out-of-pocket cost; or
- The applicable Extended Medicare Safety Net benefit cap.
What could this mean for psychology appointment costs?
Based on our current standard consultation fee of $225, eligible clients who have reached the Extended Medicare Safety Net threshold may receive their usual Medicare rebate plus an additional Safety Net benefit.
Where the full additional benefit of 80% of the remaining out-of-pocket cost applies, this could reduce the final out-of-pocket cost of an eligible consultation to approximately $25.*
*The actual rebate and out-of-pocket cost will vary depending on the practitioner, Medicare item number, referral arrangements, individual eligibility and any applicable Extended Medicare Safety Net benefit cap. Medicare determines the benefit payable for each service.
2026 Extended Medicare Safety Net thresholds
The thresholds for the 2026 calendar year are:
- $861.20 for eligible concession card holders and families receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A
- $2,699.10 for general individuals and families
The Medicare Safety Net operates from 1 January to 31 December each year, with expenses resetting at the beginning of the new calendar year.
Medicare Safety Net family registration: how to register or check your details
You only need to register your family once, although you should update Medicare if your family circumstances change.
To check your current Safety Net balance or registered family details:
- Sign in to myGov and open your linked Medicare account.
- Select Safety Net from the Services menu.
- Review your Safety Net balance and family details.
- Confirm your family when Medicare asks you to do so.
If you have not previously registered, or need to add or change family members, you can:
- Complete the Medicare Safety Net Registration and Amendment for Couples and Families form (MS016); or
- Call Medicare on 132 011.
It is worth checking your registration now, particularly if several members of your family access healthcare services throughout the year. Even if you do not expect to reach the threshold, registering ensures eligible family costs can be combined and correctly tracked.
For current thresholds, eligibility requirements and registration instructions, visit the Services Australia Medicare Safety Nets website.
This information is general in nature and is based on information available for the 2026 calendar year. It should not be considered confirmation of your eligibility or expected Medicare rebate. Fees, rebates, thresholds and Medicare rules may change, and benefit caps may apply. We encourage clients to undertake their own enquiries and confirm their individual circumstances directly with Medicare before relying on this information.
