Medicare Bulk Billing is one of Australia’s most important healthcare entitlements — yet many patients aren’t entirely sure how it works, when it applies, or what happens when it doesn’t. This guide explains everything you need to know about Bulk Billing at The Peninsula Medical & Dental Clinic in Mornington.
What Is Medicare Bulk Billing?
Bulk Billing is a billing arrangement where your doctor charges the Medicare schedule fee directly to Medicare — and nothing to you. As a patient, you pay $0 out of pocket. The doctor accepts the Medicare rebate as full payment for the consultation.
At The Peninsula Medical & Dental Clinic, we are a Bulk Billing practice. This means eligible Medicare card holders can attend a GP consultation without any out-of-pocket cost — ever. We believe quality primary healthcare should be accessible to every family, regardless of financial circumstances.
Who Is Eligible for Bulk Billing?
At our Mornington clinic, the following patients are bulk billed for standard GP consultations:
- All Medicare card holders — including standard Medicare, healthcare card holders, DVA card holders, pensioners and children under 16
- Patients attending for routine consultations, chronic disease management, mental health plans and most preventive health services
What If I Don’t Have a Medicare Card?
Patients without a valid Medicare card (such as overseas visitors, temporary visa holders, or those whose Medicare has lapsed) are not entitled to a Medicare rebate. A private consultation fee of $150 applies for a standard consultation, payable on the day. We recommend all eligible patients maintain an up-to-date Medicare card to maximise access to Bulk Billed care.
What About Weekend and Public Holiday Consultations?
We are open seven days a week including public holidays — one of the few clinics on the Mornington Peninsula to offer this. Medicare Bulk Billing applies on weekends and public holidays for eligible patients, though the Medicare schedule fee (and therefore the private fee for non-Medicare patients) is slightly higher on these days to reflect after-hours care.
Dental and Allied Health — Is That Bulk Billed Too?
Bulk Billing applies to GP consultations only. Our dental clinic operates on a private fee basis with HICAPS available for private health fund rebates on the spot. For children aged 2–17, the Medicare Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) provides up to $1,095 in dental benefits over two years. Allied health services (physiotherapy, podiatry, dietitian, audiology, cardiology) are privately billed with HICAPS, though Medicare-rebated visits are available through a GP Team Care Arrangement for eligible patients with chronic conditions.
How to Access Bulk Billed GP Care at Our Clinic
Simply bring your valid Medicare card to your appointment. Our reception team will process your consultation through Medicare directly. No forms, no upfront payment, no hassle. If you’re a new patient, you can register online through HotDoc and book your first appointment in minutes.