PBS eligibility and concession cards
Who can access subsidised PBS medicines, what concession cards reduce your co-payment, how to access the PBS safety net for pensioners and the PBS safety net entitlement card, and how much you pay at the pharmacy in 2026.
Who is eligible for PBS medicines?
To access PBS-subsidised medicines you must:
- Be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or eligible temporary resident
- Hold a valid Medicare card ↗
- Have a valid prescription from an eligible prescriber for a listed PBS medicine ↗
- Meet any clinical restrictions or criteria attached to that PBS item
Visitors from Reciprocal Health Care Agreement (RHCA) countries — UK, Ireland, New Zealand, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Malta, Slovenia, and Norway — can also access medically necessary PBS medicines during their stay, subject to the same co-payments as Australian general patients.
Concession cards and co-payment rates
| Card type | Who holds it | PBS co-payment (2026) | Safety Net threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| No concession card General patient | Any Medicare cardholder not holding a concession card | ~$7.70 per script | ~$1,636/year (family or individual) |
| Pensioner Concession Card PCC | Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, Carer Payment, partner/dependent recipients | ~$2.80 per script | ~$348/year → then free |
| Health Care Card HCC | JobSeeker, Parenting Payment, Austudy, Youth Allowance, ABSTUDY recipients | ~$2.80 per script | ~$348/year → then free |
| Low Income Health Care Card LIHC | Low-income earners not on Centrelink; assessed on prior 8-week income | ~$2.80 per script | ~$348/year → then free |
| DVA Gold Card | Veterans eligible under DVA; RPBS scheme | $0 (free) | — |
| Close the Gap (CTG) | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients registered by prescriber | $0 (waived) | — |
Co-payments indexed to CPI on 1 January annually. Check PBS fees ↗ for current exact amounts. See Close the Gap subsidy and Safety Net for full details.
How to get a concession card
Automatically issued when you are granted the Age Pension, Disability Support Pension, or Carer Payment by Centrelink. You do not need to apply separately. The card is linked to your Centrelink record. If you lose your card, request a replacement via myGov ↗ or a Centrelink service centre.
Apply through myGov ↗ or a Centrelink service centre when you begin receiving an eligible payment. The card is issued automatically for most working-age payments. Foster children and children receiving ABSTUDY can also receive their own HCC.
Apply online via myGov or by visiting a Centrelink service centre. You must provide your income for the past 8 weeks. The LIHC is assessed and issued for 12 months — you must reapply annually. Income thresholds are updated each year. There is no Centrelink payment requirement.
Apply: How to claim LIHC ↗
Overseas visitors and RHCA countries
Australia has Reciprocal Health Care Agreements (RHCAs) with 11 countries. Eligible visitors can access medically necessary PBS medicines at the general co-payment rate (~$7.70) during their stay. They do not qualify for concession rates or Safety Net access.
RHCA visitors must present their home country health card. Coverage is for medically necessary treatment, not pre-planned treatment. Full RHCA details ↗