Medicare Card
Having a valid Medicare card is important for claiming a Medicare benefit, visiting a doctor who bulk bills, seeking treatment as a public patient in a public hospital or having a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme prescription filled.
How to get a Medicare Card
Enrol for Medicare using the Medicare Enrolment Application form.
Medicare Online
Medicare Online is an easy way to view, update and get information.
Register or logon to Medicare Online (a Medicare card is required).
Quick links
Medicare cards are issued to people enrolled in Medicare. If you are aged 15 or older, you can get your own Medicare card. Children under 15 can be listed on their parents’ card.
You use your Medicare card when:
- making a Medicare claim for a paid or unpaid doctor's account
- visiting a doctor who bulk bills
- getting treatment as a public patient in a public hospital
- filling a Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme prescription at a pharmacy.
Make sure we have your current address so you receive a replacement Medicare card when your card expires.
If you need to make changes to your card, or if your card is lost or stolen, please let us know as soon as possible. You can update your details or report a lost or stolen Medicare card by:
- using Medicare Online if you are registered
- calling 132 011
- visiting your local DHS Service Centre
- writing to the Department of Human Services at GPO Box 9822 in your capital city. You will need to attach a certified copy of identification such as your driver’s licence.
You need to know
Eligibility for Medicare Card
Everyone who lives in Australia—except Norfolk Island residents—is eligible for a Medicare card.
New arrivals and visitors to Australia
If you are a new arrival or visitor to Australia, find out about Medicare and if you are eligible in our translated information kit or visitor information sheets.
First steps
Enrol for Medicare
To enrol for Medicare you need to fill out a Medicare Enrolment Application form. When you are enrolled, we will send you a card. Forms are also available from your local DHS Service Centre.
When you enrol, you need to show us original or certified copies of documents, such as your birth certificate or passport, to prove you are eligible. If you aren’t sure, please call us to check what documents you need.
To enrol a newborn baby, the hospital can help you fill out a form to send us and your child will also be registered on the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register.
Medicare Card for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
You can enrol and keep your details up-to-date by filling out the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medicare enrolment and amendment form.
You do not have to identify yourself as an Indigenous Australian. The information you give us is confidential. For more information, read about the Voluntary Indigenous Identifier.
If you need help filling out the form or have any questions, call the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Access Line on 1800 556 955 or visit your local DHS Service Centre.
Get your own Medicare card at age 15
If you are aged 15 or older, you can have your own Medicare card.
To transfer to your own Medicare card, you need to visit a DHS Service Centre with identification and fill out a Medicare Copy/Transfer Application form.
Note: if a parent wants to do this for their young person, both the young person and the parent will need to complete the Medicare Copy/Transfer Application form.
Add a newborn to your Medicare card
To add a baby to your Medicare card you will need to fill out a Newborn Child Claim for Family Assistance and Medicare form. This form is included in the information pack given to parents after the birth of their child, either in hospital or from a registered midwife for a home birth.
You can lodge the completed form at your local DHS Service Centre or by mail in the reply-paid envelope included in the pack.
If you don't have a Newborn Child Claim for Family Assistance and Medicare form, you need to fill out a Medicare Enrolment Application form and provide an identification document such as a birth certificate. The form and identity document can be lodged in person at your local DHS Service Centre.
You will find information about Medicare enrolment for children adopted from overseas in the Information sheet for parents adopting a child from overseas.
Add your partner to your Medicare card
To add your partner to your Medicare card you will need to visit your local DHS Service Centre and complete a Copy/Transfer Application form.
If you can’t get to a Service Centre, you can post your completed form to:
Department of Human Services
GPO Box 9822
in your capital city.
The form must be signed by the Medicare cardholder and the person being transferred. The Medicare cardholder must provide proof of identity, such as a passport or driver's licence.
Copy/Transfer Application forms are also available from your local Service Centre, or you can ask for the form to be sent to you by calling 132 011.
Transferring people between Medicare cards
Adding a newborn, copying children from one Medicare card to another and transferring people from one Medicare card to another must be done in person at your local DHS Service Centre.
Existing customers
Using your Medicare card
There are many uses for a Medicare card including visiting a doctor.
Updating your personal details on a Medicare Card
Changes to your Medicare card details must be done in person at your local DHS Service Centre.
Lost or stolen Medicare cards
If your Medicare card is lost or stolen, and you have not updated your address with us in the past four weeks, you can ask for a replacement card.
Duplicate Medicare cards
A duplicate card is a copy of your current Medicare card and can be used when more than one family member needs their own card. You can only get a duplicate Medicare card if there is more than one person listed on the card.
You can ask for a duplicate card by:
- calling 132 011
- visiting your local DHS Service Centre (a form is not required)
- sending a request to the Department of Human Services, GPO Box 9822 in your capital city (a form is not required). You need to attach a certified copy of identification such as your driver's licence
- using Medicare Online. If you’re not already registered for Online Services, register now.
Expired Medicare cards
If your Medicare card has recently expired, and you have not updated your address with us in the past four weeks, you can ask for a replacement card.