Medicare card (Australia)

[1] The card lists an individual as well as any members of his or her family he or she chooses to add who are also permanent residents and meet the Medicare definition of dependent.

The primary purpose of the Medicare card is to prove eligibility when seeking Australian Medicare-subsidised care from a medical practitioner or hospital.

Since 2002, a Medicare card has been required to be shown at a pharmacy when collecting Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) medications.

The Medicare card is used as a recognised form of ID in opening bank accounts or obtaining a driver's license.

The Medicare card will also be required when accessing medical, hospital or pharmaceutical services in a country with which Australia has a reciprocal health care agreement.

Without quoting a valid provider number, a practitioner's patients will not be entitled to a rebate of their medical expenses.

Medicare cards are issued by Services Australia (until late 2005 known as the Health Insurance Commission or HIC) to individuals and their families.

In 2005, plans to expand the functions of the Medicare card were announced by then Howard government Human Services Minister Joe Hockey.

However, the scheme was criticised by some sectors of the public and relevant interest groups as a step in the same direction of an Australia Card.