A guide to finding free GP visits in Australia — who qualifies, where to search, and what to do if there's no bulk billing near you.
When a doctor "bulk bills," they accept the Medicare rebate as full payment for the consultation. You pay nothing out of pocket — the doctor bills Medicare directly. Not all doctors bulk bill. It's entirely up to each practice to decide their billing policy.
Yes. The RACGP surveyed 2,416 practising GPs in April–May 2025. The proportion of GPs who bulk bill all their patients has fallen from 22% in 2021 to 12% in 2025. The proportion bulk billing only a minority of patients has risen from 31% to 40% over the same period.
The underlying cause is a funding gap: per-person government funding for general practice in 2023–24 ($452) was the same in real terms as 2015–16, while practice costs have risen significantly. Data from 1,048 practices in the Cubiko Touchstone dataset confirms that concession card holders and children under 16 continue to receive the highest bulk billing rates due to additional government incentive payments for those groups.
From 1 November 2025, the government extended bulk billing incentives to all eligible patients — not just children or concession card holders. GPs who bulk bill any Medicare patient can now claim the incentive. This is a significant expansion that makes bulk billing more financially viable for practices across the board. Source: MBS Online, November 2025 changes
Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card holders, and children under 16, were the original focus of the 2023 triple bulk billing incentive expansion. From November 2025 all patients are covered, but practices may still prioritise these groups. Always mention your card when booking.
Community health centres and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services almost always bulk bill all patients, regardless of concession status.
Practices in rural and regional areas are more likely to bulk bill due to additional government incentives for regional healthcare.
Billing policies change. A practice that bulk billed last year may not anymore. Always ask when booking: "Do you bulk bill?" and "Do you bulk bill for [my situation — e.g. concession card holders, children]?"
Some practices "selectively bulk bill" — they bulk bill children, concession card holders, or existing patients, but charge privately for new adult patients without a concession card.
After-hours and walk-in clinics (like National Home Doctor Service for after-hours home visits) are more likely to bulk bill because they receive higher Medicare rebates for after-hours consultations. If you're flexible on timing, this can be a good option.
Some telehealth GP services bulk bill all consultations. This is especially useful for simple issues like script renewals, results follow-up, or mental health check-ins. Search for "bulk billing telehealth GP Australia" or ask your regular practice if they offer bulk-billed phone/video consultations.
If bulk billing isn't available near you:
Ask about the gap. Not all private-billing practices are expensive. Some charge only $10–$20 above the Medicare rebate.
Check the Medicare Safety Net. Once your out-of-pocket costs exceed the threshold ($594.40 in 2026), Medicare pays 80% of future out-of-pocket costs. See our Safety Net Calculator.
Visit a community health centre. These are publicly funded and almost always bulk bill. They may have longer wait times but provide quality care.
Check if you qualify for a concession card. A Low Income Health Care Card requires no Centrelink payment — just low income. Apply through Services Australia.
If you're not bulk billed, you pay the doctor's fee upfront, then claim the Medicare rebate back. The rebate is paid into your bank account (usually same day if claiming through the myGov app or at the practice).
Example: Doctor charges $85 for a standard consult. Medicare rebate is ~$41.40. Your out-of-pocket gap = $43.60.
Use our MedCost Finder to estimate gaps for different consultation types.