Glossary

Medicare

Medicare is the public health insurance scheme covering Australian citizens and most permanent residents. It subsidises visits to GPs and specialists, many pathology and imaging tests, and public hospital treatment. Rebates for eligible telehealth services became a permanent part of Medicare after 2020.

Not every service attracts a rebate, and many private clinics, including telehealth providers, operate on a fee for service basis with transparent pricing instead of bulk billing. Checking the fee structure before booking avoids surprises.

WMedically reviewed by Dr. Wesam Abujalala, Medical Director, Holistica HealthLast updated 11 August 2026

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