Over $241 million in unclaimed Medicare benefits is ready to be paid to more than 930,000 Australians who haven’t provided their current bank details to Medicare.
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Government Services, Bill Shorten said Australians could only be reunited with unpaid Medicare benefits once they updated their bank details.
“We know a bit of extra money is always welcome in the lead up to the holidays – so there’s no better time than now to check if your bank details with Medicare are current, and if you have any unpaid benefits,” Minister Shorten said.
“The average Australian with unpaid Medicare benefits is owed around $260 – but there are also 200 people owed more than $10,000.
“Young people are owed the most, with more than 224,000 Australians aged between 18 and 24 owed over $52 million.”
“With everyone doing it tough due to cost of living this is good news for nearly a million Aussies from all walks of life all over Australia.”
Minister Shorten said it took the average person with a myGov account linked to Medicare less than a minute to check and update their bank details using the myGov app.
“There are a few quick and easy ways to check and update your Medicare details, including through your linked Medicare service on the myGov app, or your Medicare online account,” Minister Shorten said.
“Once you update your details, Services Australia will pay your unpaid benefits within 3 days.”
Minister Shorten said unpaid benefits only made up a small portion of overall Medicare benefits.
“Services Australia paid almost $30 billion in Medicare benefits to Australians last financial year,” Minister Shorten said.
“All up, we’ve reunited over half a million Australians with $117 million in unpaid Medicare benefits since December 2023.
“Services Australia is in the process of sending over half a million notifications to people’s myGov inbox asking them to update their details.
“If you’re updating your details through myGov, sign in to my.gov.au or use the official app, and remember Services Australia never asks you to open a link in a text message or email.”
For more information on how to check and update your bank details with Medicare, go to servicesaustralia.gov.au/getmedicarebenefits.