1300 164 990
What Is Bulk Billing?
Bulk billing is a payment option created to provide monetary coverage for public healthcare needs. With bulk billing, you may receive pay advantages or complete coverage when you see healthcare professionals like a doctor or an optometrist.
How does bulk billing work?
Bulk billing, as defined by Health Direct, is a part of the Australian Government’s health coverage system called Medicare. Medicare coverage means that in specific and stated circumstances, the Australian health system will completely or partially pay for a medical service provided.
This service is called bulk billing because GPs and healthcare providers bill the Medicare system in bulk. This means they bill the services in one massive instance at a time.
Bulk billed eye tests are available to all eligible Medicare card holders at Oscar Wylee.
What is a gap fee?
When bulk billing doesn’t cover the entire cost of any form of health care, you will have to pay part of the fee out of your own pocket. This is what is referred to as a gap payment, or gap fee.
At Oscar Wylee:
You can find a fully qualified optometrist that offers comprehensive bulk billing eye tests to any valid Medicare card holders and their dependents at Oscar Wylee’s stores.
Be advised not every Oscar Wylee store offers a children's eye test.
What is Medicare bulk billing?
Medicare is Australia’s ‘universal health care system’. It was created on the 1st of February in 1984. It is a national health scheme that is managed by Services Australia. The system was created to assist Australian citizens pay for the cost of their health and welfare.
Proof of Medicare enrollment is found on an issued card that lists each member of a household or group that may get Medicare benefits. Bring this car with you to our stores for the most convenient usage of Medicare services at Oscar Wylee.
Medicare claims online
You can also make any Medicare or bulk billing claims online through Medicare easyclaim or other digital sites that allow a customer to sign an online form.
Be advised, there is a strong possibility that without directly using a Medicare card in person, any payments made will be directly charged to you. Keeping this card with you is vital to receive any bulk billed benefits.
Bulk billed eye tests
Services Australia also included an eye test as performed by a qualified optometrist in Medicare’s coverage for health services. As vision skills are constantly changing, it’s recommended that you take advantage of this feature.
However, general Medicare eye health care is limited to eye tests and eye exams. Bulk billing eye tests can also apply to dependents and their own vision testing, such as a kid’s eye test booking.
To learn more about eye tests and what happens in an eye exam, see our eye exam glossary.
Due for an eye test?
We recommend that everyone should have an eye test with an optometrist at least once every 2 years.
Oscar Wylee offers bulk billed eye tests, so there are no out-of-pocket expenses for eligible Medicare cardholders
Why would doctors choose not to bulk bill?
Bulk billing can often result in GPs or health practitioners receiving less payment. According to The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, an overuse of bulk billing can cause a revenue loss for certain clinics. Because of this, it is possible that bulk billing services may not be accepted or are outright refused across Australia.
It is recommended that you use Health Directs find a health service feature to locate a health practitioner that allows bulk billing near you.
How much do you get back on Medicare?
The government will typically pay your Medicare benefits towards your chosen bank account. The amount that a Medicare member gets back depends on multiple factors, such as the service used, the member’s state of finances and living and if there are dependents on the Medicare card, and how many dependents there are.
What is the difference between bulk billing and private billing?
Private billing refers to payments on medical aid that are paid out of your own pocket instead of going through a third party. It also includes payments made in advance or costs made with the Medicare rebate to be used at a later date.
If a doctor or other professional has billed you for a payment even though Medicare has covered a portion of the cost, then that means they technically did the payment as private or mixed billing.
‘Mixed billing’ is the term used for when both private and bulk billing have been applied to any payments.
Who is eligible for bulk billing?
All valid Medicare card holders and their dependants are eligible for bulk billing and bulk billed services.
Medicare resources are only available for:
- Australian citizens
- New Zealand citizens
- Australian Permanent residents
- Persons applying for a permanent residency, who and have a child or spouse who is a citizen or permanent resident
- A temporary resident covered by ministerial orders
- A resident of Norfolk Island, Christmas Island, Lord Howe Island or the Cocos Islands
What will Medicare not pay for?
Typically, Medicare does not cover for many kinds of dental services, life insurance, most forms of therapy such as speech or occupational therapy, podiatry, chiropractic work or health appliances like hearing aids. Medicare will also not cover for laser eye surgery.
See the MBS, or medicare benefits schedule, to know what services Medicare will or will not provide for.
Can you claim glasses on Medicare?
Medicare does not pay or cover for any benefits on glasses, frames, lenses, or any other optical appliances.
Claiming with health funds
Australian health insurance companies offer coverage on hospital extras and general extras, including dental extras and optical extras. Optical extras enable claiming on prescription glasses when you are a member of a health fund.
This coverage mainly applies to glasses and other purchases. Unless packaged with a general extra policy, hospital extras may not allow similar coverage on corrective prescriptions.
