More and more general practices charge a gap fee when you visit your GP. We want to explain why, for transparency.
What bulk billing is
Bulk billing means you don’t pay for your visit. Your practitioner bills Medicare directly and accepts the Medicare rebate as full payment.
Why rebates haven’t kept up
Medicare rebates were meant to rise each year with the cost of living, but they were frozen from 2014 and increases since then have not kept pace with the real cost of running a medical practice: staff, rent, equipment, accreditation and longer consultations.
How it works at Mediclinic
Mediclinic is a mixed billing practice. Some of our practitioners bulk bill eligible patients at their discretion, including concession card holders, children, people aged 65 and over, DVA card holders, and care plans and health assessments. Medicare also provides incentives that help us bulk bill these patients.
For other appointments we charge a private fee, and you can get your Medicare rebate back on the spot with your debit card. See our current fees.
Bulk billing is great for patients, but it is not compulsory for providers. Where practices bulk bill, it is a choice they make.