The Medicare Safety Net is an Australian Government program that helps reduce your out-of-pocket medical costs once you spend a certain amount in a year on services covered by Medicare. In simple terms:

1. Accumulate costs: Each time you claim a Medicare benefit (e.g., for a GP visit, specialist appointment, or certain tests), you incur some out-of-pocket expenses. Medicare keeps track of how much you pay overall.

2. Reach a threshold: Once you, or your family combined, have spent more than a set amount (the “threshold”), you hit the Safety Net.

3. Extra benefits kick in: From that point on (for the rest of the calendar year), Medicare covers more of your future out-of-pocket expenses for eligible services, making them cheaper.

4. Different thresholds: There are a few Safety Net thresholds, with lower thresholds for concession card holders and people receiving certain government payments.

Overall, it’s designed to protect individuals and families from paying very high medical costs in a single year by capping what you pay once you’ve reached the threshold.

Learn more and register at the official Australian Government Safety Net page.