Medicare now needs bank details!

[AustraliaPoochie]

Via mygov.
Went to docs, they didn't bulk bill which I knew.
They said they had my Medicare card no, which is good as the claim appeared there.
But I waited hours for the refund.
Nothing.
Then noticed an in mail, within mygov, that they needed my bank account details to pay back some $.
The receptionist at docs said refund could take 2 days.
In the news too, lots of Aussies are due a Medicare refund but they don't have peoples bank account details so can't pay back the money.
I know some docs bulkbill, some will do a refund, some will work with private health insurance card.
So, my note on here, check that there is bank account details in "linked services" I'm your mygov account.
my.gov.(*)au.
Remove Asterix.
$250 back from a $360 first consult.

 

[kelvedon]

Shouldn’t the title of this thread be Medicare not Medibank ?

 

[RooFlyer]

Then noticed an in mail, within mygov, that they needed my bank account details to pay back some $.

Of course!

This has been the case since I don't know when. I have provided a savings account number and pay by CC, and the rebate appears usually within a day. Its not a bad way to earn points on the CC then get a chunk of it back.

Every medical receptionist in my experience (and I have quite a bit ) when preparing my bill will ask if Medicare has my bank details. They also tell me how much the rebate will be.

If you don't want to provide bank/cc details for refund, you claim on-line and enter the details there. No cash or cheque refunds as far as I know.

 

[Pushka]

Yes. Thats been the case for a very long time. Since they stopped sending cheques.

 

[JessicaTam]

[mod hat]
Thread title corrected
[/mod hat]

 

[VPS]

Of course!

This has been the case since I don't know when. I have provided a savings account number and pay by CC, and the rebate appears usually within a day. Its not a bad way to earn points on the CC then get a chunk of it back.

Every medical receptionist in my experience (and I have quite a bit ) when preparing my bill will ask if Medicare has my bank details. They also tell me how much the rebate will be.

If you don't want to provide bank/cc details for refund, you claim on-line and enter the details there. No cash or cheque refunds as far as I know.

The receptionist is surprised when I'm happy to pay the lot and get the money back the next day - every point counts

And this was just in the news

Nearly 1 million Australians have unclaimed Medicare benefits waiting for them

An average of $240 is waiting to be claimed by nearly a million Australians who have out-of-date or unrecorded bank details with Medicare.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Pushka]

The receptionist is surprised when I'm happy to pay the lot and get the money back the next day - every point counts

And this was just in the news

Nearly 1 million Australians have unclaimed Medicare benefits waiting for them

An average of $240 is waiting to be claimed by nearly a million Australians who have out-of-date or unrecorded bank details with Medicare.

www.abc.net.au

I don't get the choice. Pay in full and get the refund later.

 

[TheRealTMA]

The receptionist is surprised when I'm happy to pay the lot and get the money back the next day - every point counts

And this was just in the news

Nearly 1 million Australians have unclaimed Medicare benefits waiting for them

An average of $240 is waiting to be claimed by nearly a million Australians who have out-of-date or unrecorded bank details with Medicare.

www.abc.net.au

Yes, pay in full with credit card, get points, get refund in bank account next day. Careful to not use debit card lest the clinic wants to do the refund to the debit card!

 

[Pushka]

Yes, pay in full with credit card, get points, get refund in bank account next day. Careful to not use debit card lest the clinic wants to do the refund to the debit card!

It's Medicare that does the refund to whatever account you've nominated.

 

[TheRealTMA]

It's Medicare that does the refund to whatever account you've nominated.

Yes I know but the point is the same. It’s the clinic that instigates the refund from Medicare. Another reason not to use ever use debit cards, apart from the financial security dangers.

 

[downgraded]

I don't get the choice. Pay in full and get the refund later.

My issue is what's the lock back for the provider? They used to charge the extra and claim the rebate, what's the extra that's in it for them in not just charging their extra to you and claiming the Medicare fee directly? Or can't they do that any more? I agree I'm happy to take the points but it still seems a bit fishy to me from a public health/finance perspective.

Post automatically merged: Nov 29, 2023

My issue is what's the kick back for the provider? They used to charge the extra and claim the rebate, what's the extra that's in it for them in not just charging their extra to you and claiming the Medicare fee directly? Or can't they do that any more? I agree I'm happy to take the points but it still seems a bit fishy to me from a public health/finance perspective.

 

[Duffa]

If they just charge you for the extra, then it is illegal to bulk bill you for the rest.
If they wait for the Medicare fee it can take more than 90 days.
You get your money within 48 hrs.
It's a simple cash flow decision for most of them.

They get paid in full on the day, and you get your refund, long before your credit card bill comes in.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Too over enthusiastic, I always thought that the Medicare card could be read like the old credit card reader, ie, just slide it down one side of a machine.
Then while at work, realized that EFTPOS these days are either tap and pay, or insert and PIN, no more sliding card down the side of the EFTPOS machine.
Thanks all.

 

[JessicaTam]

Too over enthusiastic, I always thought that the Medicare card could be read like the old credit card reader, ie, just slide it down one side of a machine.
Then while at work, realized that EFTPOS these days are either tap and pay, or insert and PIN, no more sliding card down the side of the EFTPOS machine.
Thanks all.

The Medicare card still is used that way in its dedicated machine. It is not an EFTPOS card.

 

[drron]

My beef is that It seems very few medical practices take Amex. Before I retired from my practice in 2006 we accepted Amex for at least the previous 5 years.
I want MR points not Commbank awards.