Free health benefits…
…for those aged over 65
Entitlements can often slip under the radar, so here’s a timely reminder of some free health benefits that will help you save on out-of-pocket expenses.
We’ve officially entered flu season (May – October) in the southern hemisphere. There is strong advice to have an annual influenza vaccine and those aged 65 or over, or with pre-existing conditions, are able to receive this vaccination for free.
This is offered under the National Immunisation Program (NIP) by the Australian Government. The influenza virus strains change every year and so vaccines are also designed to match more recent strains. For this reason, it is important your immunisation is up to date.
Other vaccinations are also available for free through the NIP. These include Pneumococcal for people aged 70 and over and shingles for those aged 70-79.
You can download the full schedule of NIP vaccines , as well as advice on when to get vaccinated.
Advice for those with special conditions
Some adults with specific medical risk conditions may require additional vaccines. It’s wise to speak to your doctor or vaccination provider about any additional vaccines you may need.
If it’s free, why was I charged?
We sought clarification on this from the Department of Health and Aged Care, and here is what a spokesperson said on whether providers could charge:
- Free influenza vaccines provided through the National Immunisation Program (NIP) are available from a range of health services including GPs, community health clinics, and participating pharmacies. To locate a service individuals can search the National Health Services Directory.
- Whilst the NIP vaccine is provided for free by the Australian Government, some vaccination providers may charge a consultation/administration fee for the visit. It is advised individuals ask their preferred vaccination provider whether they charge a consultation or administration fee.
- On 28 April 2023, the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon. Mark Butler MP, announced that from 1 January 2024, the Australian Government will provide funding to community pharmacies to administer NIP vaccines, including influenza vaccines, to eligible consumers with no out-of-pocket expense.
- Under the new program, pharmacists will not charge any additional fees and will receive a payment of approximately $19 per vaccination from the Australian Government. This will apply to all NIP vaccines that are eligible to be administered within the pharmacy setting, as determined by state and territory legislation.
The takeout is that if your provider wishes to charge, you can always seek free vaccinations elsewhere.
As always, there is a difference between the states and territories as to extra vaccines they may offer.
Here’s a list of state-based contacts in case you need to check:
State and territory immunisation schedules
- ACT schedule
- NSW schedule
- NT childhood schedule
- QLD schedule
- SA schedule
- TAS schedule
- VIC schedule
- WA adult schedule
What about Covid-19 boosters?
Separately, but equally importantly, it is recommended that all adults have a Covid-19 booster shot, provided they have not had one for six months, nor a confirmed Covid-19 infection during this time. Covid-19 boosters are free to all adults. But again, do ask if your clinic plans to charge a consultation fee so you can go elsewhere if you prefer not to pay this amount.
How to book
The Federal Government’s Covid-19 information site offers the following advice to book a booster dose:
Start by using the health Service Finder or use ‘Hey Eva’ – Easy Vaccine Access.
EVA, is a simple call-back service to help people book a Covid-19 vaccine.
If you need help making a Covid -19 vaccine booking, SMS ‘Hey EVA’ to 0481 611 382. A trained call agent from the National Coronavirus Helpline will call you to help book your Covid-19 vaccination.
And should you decide to visit a GP or health centre for your booster, you may be able to have both the flu and Covid-19 shots on the same day.
How else can you now save on health costs?
In an announcement on April 26, the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, said that the Australian Government would make hundreds of common medicines cheaper by allowing millions of Australians to buy two months’ worth of medicine for the price of a single prescription.
This initiative is due to start 1 September, 2023. It is estimated that general patients will be able save up to $180 a year if their medicine is able to be prescribed for 60 days. Those who already hold a concession card (e.g. the Pensioners Concession Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card) will save up to $43.80 a year per individual medicine.
The introduction of this 60-day prescribing initiative for stable, ongoing conditions was a recommendation by clinical experts at the independent Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) in 2018.
Using concession cards
Access to either a Pension Concession Card (through entitlement to the Age Pension), or a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card is available to the vast majority of retirees. Benefits vary depending upon which card you are awarded. You can check which is available in your circumstances here.
If you are unsure what you might be eligible to receive you can use our free eligibility calculator to check.
Very useful information on free health care. The cost to visit a G.P. now pensioner bulk billing is almost non existent is significant. Especially as more frequent visits are sometimes required as age related health concerns emerge. In our nuclear family society it is mindful to consider loneliness and uncertainty are high on the aged health agenda.
Many local councils provide a free vaccination service to those aged over 65. It’s definitely worth checking before you pay a GP for a nurse to do it.
My GP just provided free Flu & Covid Booster vacs for free.
So it is really a Helpful
Hi,
Just curious. Does the GP charge medicare at all ?
The complexity of information reuired to determine is one is entitled to a Com Seniors Health Care card is crazy!
Seniors organizations should be pressing for a simpler method, to cut out the public servants, i.e:
a ONCE-OFF proofing for ANY over-70 CITIZEN (via passport or Citizenship Certificate) to be perpetually maintain this right to concessional Health Care card status.
All the income/other proofings cost more in public servant & system $ than the current minefield/review mechanisms.
There has been little provided to Self Funded retirees for years.
I am 76, can’t get pension or CSHCC, am not wealthy and as such always miss out at Budget time yet have paid income taxes for 60 years!
Budget savins should be got from cutting red-tape at both Federal & State levels
It is also worthwhile to consider applying for the Lower Income Health Care Card (LIHCC). Available at most ages it can provide many more concessions than the CSHCC does.
Very useful information. Thank you.
I wonder how many self funded retirees with a SMSF can figure out the application for the CSHC. Not me.
Hi Rosemary, thanks for sharing your thoughts! We’d be happy to help you prepare your CSHC claim if you would like and will send you an email with our services for you to review and decide if you would like to proceed.
The CSHC application process seems to be designed to discourage applicants from successfully completing it. I got a message saying that my application was incomplete. No details (What was missing?). I had to personally go to Centrelink to find out (three visits in total). Grrr.
Hi Donald, thank you for sharing your experience and I’m sorry to hear it wasn’t a pleasant one. It sounds like you were (eventually) able to resolve the matter and get your claim approved so you don’t need our assistance with the claim. If you do run into issues navigating Centrelink in future you may like to book an Entitlements Consultation and we can help guide and support you on the best course of action to take.
I would like to apply for CSHC. Can you please let me know how?
Thanks
Hi Jan, thanks for your comment! We will of course be happy to help and will send you an email with our services for your consideration.
Thanks Gray for sharing your suffering from dealing with the most complicated details system has been made not to support retirees people who paid tax for 30-40years or more and if you sell your own home one day and making couples of hundreds thousands of profits and how much husband and wife having in their super and other assets ,
of course many retirees will end up not eligible for age pension because they are over the threshold assets limit now 954 k and under the current completed rules
people might need to wait 5- 10 years to be eligible for part pension not full ones
Centrelink system needs changes or review
I don’t understand the hype for a Com Seniors Health Care Card. I have one and have found that GP’s, (even before they stopped bulk billing) Dentist, Optometrist, no one accepts it. The only joy is pharmacies and Medicare with some reductions. Am I missing something?
Hi,I’m 65 and currently on a low income health care card and dreading the transition to the seniors health care card that will require a new application (which everyone says is horrendous). I’ve been told in the past it is easier to ‘renew’ than reapply for cards.
Once I turn 66 do I HAVE to transition to the SHCC or can I continue with my annual renewal of the LIHCC? I will be self funded.
Hi Marina, you will need to transfer over from LIHCC to CSHC however it is not until you turn 67. The CSHC is a reasonably quick and simple claim process with the main stress being waiting for Centrelink to process it. The requirements on applicants though are quite minimal, Age Pension claims are where most people struggle.
Thanks for your reply. My husband who currently receives an aged pension will lose his eligibility once my superannuation comes into play (at 67) He will also then need to apply for CSHCC. Is there a joint application or will we need to apply seperately?
Hi Marina, thankfully you can both apply at the same time/with the one claim, you do not have to do two separate ones 🙂