Good news for Aussies who’ve been feeling the pinch at the doctor’s office—seeing your GP for free could soon become a lot more common!

A brand-new report has revealed that bulk billing clinics are set to surge across the country, making it easier for more Australians, including our over-60s community, to access essential healthcare without worrying about out-of-pocket costs.

Bulk billing is the backbone of affordable healthcare in Australia. It means your GP bills Medicare directly, so you don’t pay a cent for your visit.

For many, especially seniors on fixed incomes, bulk billing is a lifeline. Now, thanks to an $8 billion government pledge and new financial incentives kicking in from November 1, the number of bulk billing clinics is projected to jump by a whopping 55% nationwide, or an additional 740 centres.

A new report predicts a 55 per cent increase in bulk billing GP clinics across Australia, meaning more Aussies will be able to see a doctor for free. Image source: 9 News Australia / Youtube.

The biggest increases are expected in Victoria (233 new clinics), followed by New South Wales (213), Queensland (149), South Australia (76), Western Australia (43), Northern Territory (14), Tasmania (11), and the ACT (1).

While the largest jumps are outside the major metro areas—where GP numbers are lower but rebates are higher—this expansion is a much-needed boost for regional and rural Aussies who often struggle to find affordable healthcare close to home.

Also read: Are you spending extra for your doctor visits? This report shows one concerning trend among Aussies

The government’s new incentives are designed to encourage more clinics to offer bulk billing, especially in areas where it’s been hard to find a free GP visit.

James Gillespie, founder of health directory Cleanbill, says, 'There can be little doubt: because of this policy, more Australians will be bulk billed.'

Source: 9 News Australia / Youtube.​

However, he also points out that each GP practice faces its own economic realities, so the impact may vary from place to place.

While the news is positive for bulk billing, the report also found that clinics which don’t bulk bill are unlikely to lower their fees.

Also read: Australia's healthcare system could change forever with Labor's new 24/7 service

In fact, out-of-pocket costs for non-bulk billed visits have been rising over the past three years and may continue to do so. So, if you’re used to paying a gap fee, it’s worth checking if a new bulk billing clinic has opened near you.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made cost of living a central focus, and expanding bulk billing is a key part of that.

The government’s long-term goal is a 90% bulk billing rate by 2030. In the meantime, they’re also working to cut the cost of medicines, with the price of many prescriptions dropping to just $25.

‘Cutting back the cost of medicines to just $25, that's the same price as in 2004,’ Albanese said.

Source: ABC News (Australia) / Youtube.​

A Few Things to Keep in Mind
- Not all clinics will bulk bill every patient—some may only offer it to pensioners, concession card holders, or children.
- The availability of bulk billing GPs can still vary widely depending on where you live.
- If you’re not sure whether your local clinic bulk bills, it’s always worth asking or checking online directories like Cleanbill.

Read more: Medicare urgent care clinics spark debate: Game-changing fix or temporary cover-up?

Key Takeaways

• A new report predicts a 55 per cent increase in bulk billing GP clinics across Australia, meaning more Aussies will be able to see a doctor for free.
• The largest growth in bulk billing clinics is expected in Victoria, followed by NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, Tasmania and the ACT.
• The increase is driven by new financial incentives starting on 1 November, with biggest jumps forecast outside major metro areas, although doctor numbers in those areas remain lower.
• Despite the increase in bulk billing clinics, the report says clinics that don’t bulk bill are unlikely to reduce their costs, so out of pocket expenses for some patients may continue to rise.

Have you noticed changes in bulk billing at your local clinic? Are you finding it easier—or harder—to see a doctor for free? We’d love to hear your experiences and tips for navigating the healthcare system. Share your thoughts in the comments below!

 

[glennkidd]

And this is contrary to what the actual Doctors are saying

 

[goatwhisperer]

I havent had out of pocket GP visits ever. I live in Qld and in both rural and regional areas have had bulk billing GP clinics for the last 30 years of living here. Prior to that in SA also all our visits bulk billed at our GP clinic in a regional city.

 

[Val Ngarotata]

Our family doctor has a gap fee which as a pension couple is extra costs to living however we would not want to change doctors and hope they change to bulk billing,although I doubt it

 

[cjw1960]

Our doctors surgery have told us that bulk billing payments will not be available under the Government guidelines because they said it took time and money to set up their current system for payment and not going back to bulk billing.

 

[Benny's Light]

It is well and good to open the new centres which is a step in the right direction, but where will the doctors and other medical professionals come from to man these centres with a shortage of staff that has been around for some time. This issue needs also to be addressed with training of new medical professionals and incentives so they can make a living. It is good to have the infrastructure but also needs the right personnel.

 

[Morgans Orchard]

The GP clinic in Qld has always bulk billed pensioners for the past 10 years , However I was referred to Heart Specialist a month ago . They rang me to give me time of appointment oh and please bring $ 500 with you . I didn’t complain trying to remember the old saying What you lose on the???? You gain on the roundabout?

 

[Franno]

It is well and good to open the new centres which is a step in the right direction, but where will the doctors and other medical professionals come from to man these centres with a shortage of staff that has been around for some time. This issue needs also to be addressed with training of new medical professionals and incentives so they can make a living. It is good to have the infrastructure but also needs the right personnel.

Just more government spin. These medical centres have been around for years, all this mob are doing is re-branding them as bulk-billing centres. And you're quite right. They're not much good if they're not staffed. We're regional and our closest clinic, 25klm away, is only staffed two days a week. Good luck if you you're sick on any other day. But as an election promise, it sounded good. Mediscare lives on.

 

[RealityCheck]

Wow, what poor reporting Michelle. Just a re-hashing of the Government spin... sorry, media release. Not even the proper Cleanbill report statements!

No, the "backbone of affordable health care in Australia" is NOT bilk billing. Medicare is an insurance scheme. The backbone is the REBATE - what the insurer (Medicare) insures a patient for. And that has fallen to less half what it should be by deliberate insurer underinsurance. In other words it's an underinsurance scam.

So what happens when Medicare undervalues a patient. Either the practitioner sees a patient for nothing, or even makes a loss if they "bulk bill", or they charge the full value of the service & the underinsuring scammer (Medicare) doesn't cover it so the patient has to pay the gap.

Interestingly, SDC's other health article covers Pharmaceuticals. It trumpets how the price to patients is being reduced. So it's absolutely fine by the Health Minister that patients pay a fee for prescriptions, but absolutely not fine that they pay at the doctors. How hypocritical!

So what can we learn from the prescription system? The Government pay the Chemist the proscribed amount & the patient pays theirs. The patient payment amount is going down, but is the Chemist expected to earn less - no, the Government is paying more by the gap amount. The overall cost of the prescription is the same, but the Government is covering more - so the Chemists still get the full value of the prescription. That's why the president of the Pharmacy Guild is happy to do the photo op with the health minister. And why not - the Guild sure lobby & pay the political parties enough!

Now, with the doctors however, the full value is not covered. The PM & Health minster knows this. But they helped win an election spinning it that they would spend more on doctors. They lied to the insured (patients) that the doctors will earn more by bulk billing than by charging the gap. How's that work?

Well, we are told that the gap is ~ $50 now. If a clinic bulk bills, there can legally be no gap whatsoever. So they didn't increase the rebate (like what they do at the Chemist). They offered a bulk bill "incentive", which varies by locality but is of the order of $30.

Only a politician will look you in the eye & try to sell the idea that $30 is better than $50. After all, they have modelling which says so, & that therefore bulk billing will rise to 90%. Oh, but they're unable to release those figures - they're confidential.

So a few dumb clinics will increase their bulk billing (until they realise how much they are losing), but the real report from Cleanbill was concluding that bulk billing rate will NOT get anywhere near what the lying politicians (if you'll forgive the tautology) are telling us.

The Government/Insurer know there is a way to get bulk billing right up, & that's to cover you/rebate the full amount. But I wouldn't hold my breath for that!

 

[Petra]

NOTHING ! IS FREE !

 

[Jest]

when you reach a certain age your visits are free. I have not paid at my GP for years.
in stead of moaning be grateful.

 

[Jest]

NOTHING ! IS FREE !
View attachment 80104

the air you breathe is free as are many things. another moaner.

 

[Jest]

Wow, what poor reporting Michelle. Just a re-hashing of the Government spin... sorry, media release. Not even the proper Cleanbill report statements!

No, the "backbone of affordable health care in Australia" is NOT bilk billing. Medicare is an insurance scheme. The backbone is the REBATE - what the insurer (Medicare) insures a patient for. And that has fallen to less half what it should be by deliberate insurer underinsurance. In other words it's an underinsurance scam.

So what happens when Medicare undervalues a patient. Either the practitioner sees a patient for nothing, or even makes a loss if they "bulk bill", or they charge the full value of the service & the underinsuring scammer (Medicare) doesn't cover it so the patient has to pay the gap.

Interestingly, SDC's other health article covers Pharmaceuticals. It trumpets how the price to patients is being reduced. So it's absolutely fine by the Health Minister that patients pay a fee for prescriptions, but absolutely not fine that they pay at the doctors. How hypocritical!

So what can we learn from the prescription system? The Government pay the Chemist the proscribed amount & the patient pays theirs. The patient payment amount is going down, but is the Chemist expected to earn less - no, the Government is paying more by the gap amount. The overall cost of the prescription is the same, but the Government is covering more - so the Chemists still get the full value of the prescription. That's why the president of the Pharmacy Guild is happy to do the photo op with the health minister. And why not - the Guild sure lobby & pay the political parties enough!

Now, with the doctors however, the full value is not covered. The PM & Health minster knows this. But they helped win an election spinning it that they would spend more on doctors. They lied to the insured (patients) that the doctors will earn more by bulk billing than by charging the gap. How's that work?

Well, we are told that the gap is ~ $50 now. If a clinic bulk bills, there can legally be no gap whatsoever. So they didn't increase the rebate (like what they do at the Chemist). They offered a bulk bill "incentive", which varies by locality but is of the order of $30.

Only a politician will look you in the eye & try to sell the idea that $30 is better than $50. After all, they have modelling which says so, & that therefore bulk billing will rise to 90%. Oh, but they're unable to release those figures - they're confidential.

So a few dumb clinics will increase their bulk billing (until they realise how much they are losing), but the real report from Cleanbill was concluding that bulk billing rate will NOT get anywhere near what the lying politicians (if you'll forgive the tautology) are telling us.

The Government/Insurer know there is a way to get bulk billing right up, & that's to cover you/rebate the full amount. But I wouldn't hold my breath for that!

a lot of dumb australians who voted in this mob, well zip it, be ashamed of yourselves.
I do not pay for my GP, I do not pay full price for specialists as I reached my threshhold months back, I also get free scripts due to the threshhold being reached. I am happy and very grateful.

 

[Colette 3799]

Our surgery bulk bills and I’m very happy with their care

 

[Dynomite]

The GP clinic in Qld has always bulk billed pensioners for the past 10 years , However I was referred to Heart Specialist a month ago . They rang me to give me time of appointment oh and please bring $ 500 with you . I didn’t complain trying to remember the old saying What you lose on the???? You gain on the roundabout?

My husband (pensioner) always has to pay large gap $200 to $ 400 to see heart or knee and hip specialist. Seems outrageous to me. Have queried it told there are no concession rates.

 

[David567]

Albosleazy is the reason many had to start paying in the first place. Now he's doing a Trump act so he can say he fixed the problem. In exchange something else will go up to cover for it.

 

[Towing]

A few years ago as soon as the Govt. announced that there MIGHT be a co-payment our local Medical Centre increased their fees.