DrugTheGuide
PBS Guide · 7 min read

PBS Safety Net

How the PBS Safety Net caps your annual medicine costs — thresholds for general and concessional patients, PBS safety net for pensioners, the PBS safety net entitlement card registration process, family pooling, and what happens once you reach the limit.

Safety NetCo-payment capFamily registration

Safety Net thresholds (2026)

General Safety Net
~$1,636
General Medicare patients

After reaching the threshold, general patients pay a reduced co-payment (exact amount indexed annually — not free, but significantly less) for the remainder of the calendar year.

≈ 60 scripts at ~$7.70 each
Concessional Safety Net
~$348
Concession card holders (PCC, HCC, LIHC)

After reaching the threshold, concession patients pay $0 per PBS script — completely free — for the remainder of the calendar year. This is particularly beneficial for PBS safety net for pensioners who hold a Pensioner Concession Card and take multiple chronic medications.

≈ 60 scripts at ~$2.80 each

Thresholds are indexed to CPI on 1 January each year. Check PBS fees page ↗ for exact current figures. Family members can pool scripts — see below.

How to register and track your Safety Net

1

Get a Safety Net entitlement card

Ask your pharmacist for a PBS safety net entitlement card (also called a Safety Net recording card). This A5 card records each Safety-Net-eligible dispensing. Provide your Medicare card number. There is no cost to register. Pensioners with a Pensioner Concession Card should register early in the year to begin accumulating towards the concessional threshold.

2

Add family members (optional)

You can pool the Safety Net expenditure of eligible family members (e.g., partner, children under 16). At the pharmacy, ask for family members to be added to your Safety Net card. You need each family member's name and Medicare card number. Alternatively, register at a Medicare service centre ↗ or via myGov.

3

Present your card at every PBS dispensing

Each time you collect a PBS medicine, give your Safety Net card to the pharmacist. They record the script on the card and in the dispensing software. Older hand-written cards accumulate scripts manually; electronic tracking through dispensing software is standard in most pharmacies.

4

Claim the benefit once the threshold is reached

When your total co-payments reach the threshold, the pharmacist endorses your Safety Net card and you continue to receive PBS medicines at the reduced or free rate for the rest of that calendar year. The Safety Net resets on 1 January.

What counts toward the Safety Net?

Counts toward Safety Net
  • PBS prescriptions for Safety Net-recordable items
  • Co-payments paid by all registered family members
  • Medicines where the PBS price exceeds the co-payment (the co-payment portion only)
Does NOT count
  • Private prescriptions (not PBS-subsidised)
  • Over-the-counter medicines
  • Close the Gap scripts (co-payment is $0)
  • Some Section 100 HSD items — check the Schedule
  • Medicines whose PBS price is below the co-payment (patient pays only the medicine price)

Frequently asked questions

How does the PBS Safety Net work?
The PBS Safety Net has two thresholds: General (~$1,636/year) and Concessional (~$348/year). Once reached, general patients pay a reduced rate (~$7.70 reduced, not free); concession patients pay nothing for the rest of the calendar year. Safety Net resets on 1 January each year. Services Australia Safety Net ↗. See also concession card eligibility.
Can family members pool their prescriptions toward the Safety Net?
Yes — family members can register on a family Safety Net entitlement card, pooling their co-payments toward one threshold. Register at a pharmacy (ask the pharmacist), a Medicare service centre, or via myGov ↗. Ensure all family members are enrolled in Medicare and on the same Safety Net type. Useful for families with children on multiple chronic medications. See Services Australia ↗ for registration steps.
What is a Safety Net concession card?
The Safety Net entitlement card (A5 card from your pharmacy) records each PBS dispensing toward the threshold. Once the threshold is reached, it is endorsed and reduced/free co-payments begin. Cards reset 1 January. Most pharmacy dispensing software tracks this electronically. To claim Safety Net benefit: present the endorsed card at the pharmacy. Full Safety Net details ↗. Relates to co-payment rates.
Are all PBS medicines recorded toward the Safety Net?
Most PBS items are Safety Net recordable — check the item listing on the PBS Schedule ↗. Section 100 HSD items may not be recordable. CTG (Close the Gap) scripts where the co-payment is $0 do not contribute. Ask your pharmacist to confirm each time. Medicines supplied under private prescription (not PBS) do not count at all.