PBS and your prescription medicines

Many types of medicine cost much more than the price you pay. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and the PBS Safety Net can help reduce the cost of medicine.

Eligibility

If you have a Medicare card or you’re a visitor from a country that has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia, you can get prescription medicines under the PBS at a subsidised rate.

Buying PBS medicines

The PBS and PBS Safety Net help you by making some prescription medicines cheaper. Once you reach the Safety Net threshold, you can apply for a PBS Safety Net card. Your PBS medicines will be less expensive, or free, for the rest of the calendar year.

Make sure you take a valid Medicare card when you have your PBS prescription filled.

The PBS Schedule lists the medicines covered by the PBS.

Taking or sending your PBS medicine overseas

If you need prescription medicine and you’re planning a trip overseas, organising your medicine is one of the most important things you can do before you travel. This is because there are national laws and restrictions that govern the amount and types of PBS medicines you can take or send overseas.

It is illegal to take or send PBS medicines out of Australia that are not for your personal use or the use of someone travelling with you.

Read more about travelling overseas with PBS medicines.