If you're a uni student watching every dollar, a pensioner on a fixed income, or a visa holder trying to work out whether you even qualify for Medicare, here's what you need to know about getting bulk billed GP visits.
Students
Australian students with Medicare
If you're an Australian citizen or permanent resident enrolled at uni, you have a Medicare card. You can visit any bulk billing GP the same as anyone else. The national bulk billing rate sits around 78%, so finding a free GP visit is doable in most suburbs.
Many students qualify for a Health Care Card through Centrelink, even if they only receive a small amount of Youth Allowance or Austudy. The Health Care Card is worth getting. It bumps you into the priority bulk billing category at clinics that only bulk bill concession card holders.
Here's why that matters: the government pays GPs an extra $20.65 per consultation when they bulk bill a concession card holder. A GP who would otherwise charge you $85 (leaving you with a $43.60 gap) now gets $62.05 from Medicare for bulk billing you. That incentive payment changed the equation for hundreds of clinics.
University health services
Most Australian universities run on-campus health clinics. These are staffed by GPs, nurses, and often psychologists. The majority of university health services bulk bill enrolled students for standard consultations.
Wait times are usually shorter than community clinics during semester. You can typically get a same-day or next-day appointment. Services commonly available include general GP consultations, mental health assessments, sexual health screening, vaccinations, and prescriptions.
Check your university's health service website for hours and booking details. Some require you to register as a patient first.
Students under 16
Children under 16 receive priority bulk billing at most clinics. GPs collect the tripled incentive payment ($20.65) for bulk billing any child under 16, regardless of whether the family holds a concession card. About 88% of GP visits for children under 16 are bulk billed nationally.
International students
If you're on a subclass 500 student visa, you don't get Medicare. You're required to hold Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for the duration of your visa. OSHC costs about $500 to $700 per year and covers GP visits, hospital stays, and some prescriptions.
With OSHC, you can visit any GP. Some clinics accept direct billing from OSHC providers (similar to bulk billing), while others require you to pay upfront and claim back from your insurer. The rebate from OSHC typically covers $40 to $50 per standard GP visit.
Your university health service may accept OSHC direct billing. Check before your first visit.
Pensioners and concession card holders
Types of concession cards
There are three main concession cards that affect your bulk billing eligibility.
Pensioner Concession Card (PCC). Issued to Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, and Carer Payment recipients. This is the most common concession card. About 3.5 million Australians hold one.
Health Care Card (HCC). Issued to low-income earners, Job Seeker recipients, Youth Allowance recipients, and some Family Tax Benefit recipients. Income thresholds apply. For a single person with no dependants, the income limit is about $681 per week (as of 2026). You can apply through Centrelink or myGov.
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC). For self-funded retirees who don't qualify for the Age Pension. The income test is higher than the HCC. Singles can earn up to about $95,400 per year (adjusted taxable income) and still qualify.
How concession cards affect bulk billing
All three cards put you in the priority bulk billing category. Since November 2023, GPs who bulk bill a concession card holder receive the tripled incentive payment of $20.65 on top of the standard MBS fee of $41.40. That brings the GP's total to $62.05 per bulk-billed consult.
In practice, about 87% of GP visits for concession card holders are bulk billed nationally, compared to about 68% for patients without a concession card.
Even clinics that have stopped bulk billing the general public often continue to bulk bill concession card holders. When you call to book, mention your concession card straight away. The receptionist will confirm whether the clinic bulk bills for your category.
What else concession cards cover
Beyond GP visits, concession cards reduce your costs across the health system.
- PBS prescriptions: You'll pay $7.70 per script instead of the general rate of $31.60 (2026 figures). Once you hit 60 prescriptions in a year, PBS scripts drop to $0 under the PBS Safety Net.
- Extended Medicare Safety Net: The concessional threshold is $772.90 per year, compared to $2,544.30 for everyone else. Once you hit $772.90 in gap payments, Medicare pays 80% of further gaps.
- Ambulance cover: Free in some states (QLD, TAS) for all residents. In VIC, pensioners get free ambulance cover. In NSW, pensioners get a 50% discount.
If you think you might qualify
Many people who qualify for a Health Care Card don't realise it. If you earn less than $681 per week as a single person (or $1,173 per week as a couple), check your eligibility through myGov or call Centrelink on 132 490. The card is free and takes about 2 to 4 weeks to arrive.
Visa holders
Which visas get Medicare
Medicare eligibility depends on your visa subclass and your country of origin.
Full Medicare access:
- Permanent residents (subclass 100, 190, 801, 820, etc.)
- New Zealand citizens living in Australia (Special Category visa subclass 444)
- Applicants for permanent residency who hold a valid bridging visa while their application is processed
Medicare through reciprocal agreements: Australia has reciprocal health care agreements with 11 countries. If you hold a passport from one of these countries and have a valid visa, you can enrol in Medicare for medically necessary treatment.
The reciprocal countries are: United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Norway, Belgium, Italy, Malta, and Slovenia.
Reciprocal Medicare covers GP visits, public hospital treatment, and PBS prescriptions. It does not cover elective surgery, physiotherapy, dental, or ambulance. The coverage lasts as long as your visa is valid.
Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482): You get Medicare if you're from a reciprocal agreement country. If you're not, you need private health insurance. Your employer may cover this as part of your sponsorship.
If you don't have Medicare
Visa holders without Medicare access (subclass 500 student visa from non-reciprocal countries, Working Holiday visa subclass 417/462, visitor visas) need private health cover.
Here's what to do.
- OSHC (student visa): Mandatory. Costs $500 to $700 per year. Covers GP visits, hospital, some prescriptions. Major providers: Medibank, Bupa, Allianz, nib.
- OVHC (working visa): Optional but strongly recommended. Costs $100 to $200 per month. Covers GP visits and hospital. Some employers include it in work contracts.
- Community health centres: State-funded community health centres offer free or low-cost GP visits to anyone, regardless of Medicare status. These exist in every capital city and many regional towns. Wait times can be longer, but the service is free.
- Emergency departments: Public hospital emergency departments treat everyone regardless of visa or Medicare status. You may receive a bill afterwards (typically $300 to $800 for a non-admitted ED visit), but treatment is never refused.
How to enrol in Medicare as a visa holder
If you're eligible (permanent resident, NZ citizen, or reciprocal agreement passport holder with a valid visa), visit a Medicare Service Centre with your passport, visa, and proof of Australian address. You can also apply online through myGov. Processing takes about 2 to 4 weeks, but you'll receive an interim card number to use straight away.
Use the bulkbill.ai checker to see which procedures are commonly bulk billed in your area once you have your Medicare card.
For state-by-state bulk billing availability, read Where to Find Free GP Visits in Australia (2026 Bulk Billing Rates by State).
To understand how much you'll pay when a visit isn't bulk billed, check Medicare Rebates and Schedule Fees: What You Actually Pay Out of Pocket.
More questions about how bulk billing works? Visit our FAQ page.