How to Use Medicare Online in Australia: Check Claims, Update Your Details and Order a New Card

Most Medicare tasks no longer need a phone call or a trip to a service centre. Once Medicare is linked to your myGov account, you can check your claims, update your bank details and order a replacement card from your phone or computer. This guide walks through each step, and flags the spots where people usually get stuck.

What you need before you start

You need a myGov account and a way to sign in to it. In most recent versions, myGov sign-in uses myID, the digital identity app that replaced myGovID. If you have not set that up yet, do that first, because Medicare online sits behind myGov sign-in.

You also need your Medicare number. It is on your Medicare card, and in most recent versions the myGov app can show a digital copy of your card once Medicare is linked. Keep your card handy the first time you link the service, because you may be asked to confirm details from it.

Link Medicare to your myGov account

1. Sign in to myGov on the myGov website or in the myGov app.
2. Open the menu and choose the option to link a service.
3. Select Medicare from the list of services.
4. Answer the identity questions, or enter the linking code if you have one. The questions draw on information Medicare already holds about you, such as details from a recent claim.
5. Once the link succeeds, Medicare appears in your list of linked services. Open it to reach your Medicare online account.

If the link fails, check the details you entered against your card and try again. A common cause is a name or date of birth that does not match Medicare records exactly. If it keeps failing, call Medicare general enquiries on 132 011 and ask for help linking the service.

Check your claims history

1. Open Medicare from your linked services in myGov.
2. Look for the claims history or past claims section.
3. Choose the date range you want to review. Recent claims usually appear within a few days of the appointment, though some can take longer to show.
4. Each entry shows the service, the date, the amount charged and the benefit paid. Check the amounts against your receipts if you are chasing a missing rebate.

Your claims history is useful when a rebate has not arrived, when you need a record for tax time, or when you want to confirm that a bulk billed visit was processed. If a claim is missing, check with the clinic or provider first, because the claim starts with them.

Update your bank details so rebates reach you

Medicare pays rebates into the bank account you have on file. If that account has closed or changed, your rebate can bounce back, and you may not notice until you check.

1. Open your Medicare online account through myGov.
2. Find the section for your personal or bank details.
3. Update the BSB and account number, then save the change.
4. Check that the details are correct before you leave the page, because a wrong digit sends the rebate to the wrong place.

Update your bank details whenever you switch banks or close an account. It takes a couple of minutes, and it avoids the slow process of chasing a rebate that went nowhere.

Order a replacement Medicare card

Cards get lost, damaged or washed. Ordering a replacement is free.

1. Open your Medicare online account through myGov.
2. Look for the option to order a replacement card.
3. Confirm the address it should be posted to. Make sure the address is current before you submit the request.
4. Submit the request and note the confirmation. The card usually arrives by post within a few weeks.

If you need to see a doctor before the new card arrives, your Medicare number is enough in most cases. The clinic can look you up, or you can show the digital card in the myGov app if it is available on your phone.

Keep your family details current

Your Medicare card usually lists your family members, and children under 15 are generally on a parent or guardian card. When a child turns 15, they can apply for their own Medicare card.

To add or remove someone, or to update a family member’s details, use the relevant section of your Medicare online account. Some changes, such as adding a new baby or a partner, may need supporting documents, and Medicare will tell you what to provide. If the online option is not available for your change, the 132 011 line can explain the next step.

If something goes wrong

A few problems come up often. If you cannot sign in, the issue is usually with myGov or myID rather than Medicare, so start there. If a service will not link, check that your details match your Medicare record exactly. If a rebate is missing, check your claims history first, then ask the provider whether the claim was sent.

Watch out for scams. Medicare will never text or email you a link asking for your bank details or your myGov password. If you get a message like that, delete it and update your details only by signing in to myGov yourself.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need the myGov app to use Medicare online?

You can use Medicare online through the myGov website on a computer, but the myGov app is the easiest option on a phone. Either way, you need a myGov account with Medicare linked to it.

How long does a replacement Medicare card take to arrive?

A replacement card is free and usually arrives by post within a few weeks. If you need care before it arrives, your Medicare number is usually enough for the clinic to look you up.

Can I check my Medicare claims online?

Yes. Once Medicare is linked in myGov, your online account shows your claims history, including the service, the date, the amount charged and the benefit paid.