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MyMedicare is the government’s voluntary registration system that links Australians to their regular GP clinic — and it’s the gateway to knowing whether your practice is on the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Payment (BBPIP) programme. Here’s exactly how to set it up and what to look for.
What Is MyMedicare — and Why Does It Matter in 2026?
MyMedicare launched in late 2023 and has become increasingly important as bulk billing incentives expanded. When you register, you formally link yourself to a specific GP or practice. That registration unlocks several benefits:
- Longer telehealth consultations (60+ minutes) with your registered GP
- Better care coordination for chronic conditions
- Eligibility for the BBPIP-linked bulk billing incentives your clinic may receive
- More personalised health reminders via myGov
Worth noting: You don’t have to register with MyMedicare to access bulk billing. But if your GP’s clinic is on BBPIP, registration helps ensure your consultations count toward their full bulk billing commitments.
Step-by-Step: How to Register on MyMedicare
- Go to myGov — Visit my.gov.au and sign in with your myGov account. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to create it first (takes about 5 minutes).
- Link Medicare — In your myGov dashboard, select “Link a service” and choose Medicare. You’ll need your Medicare card number and individual reference number.
- Open the Medicare section — Once linked, navigate to the Medicare tile, then select “MyMedicare” from the menu.
- Find your GP or clinic — Use the search function to locate your regular GP by name or clinic. If they’re enrolled in MyMedicare, they’ll appear in the results.
- Request registration — Select your preferred GP and submit the registration request. Your GP or clinic needs to confirm it — this usually happens at your next visit.
- Receive confirmation — Once your GP accepts, you’ll see your registration confirmed in the MyMedicare section of your myGov account.
The whole process takes under 10 minutes if you already have a myGov account with Medicare linked.
What Is BBPIP and How Do You Check If Your GP Is on It?
The Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Payment (BBPIP) is a programme that pays participating clinics an extra 12.5% on all Medicare payments — but only if the practice bulk bills 100% of its patients. Payments started in Q1 2026.
In practice: If your clinic is on BBPIP, they’re financially incentivised to bulk bill everyone who walks through the door — including you, even if you’re not a concession card holder or under 16. That’s the point of the programme.
To check your GP’s BBPIP status:
| Method | How to Use It | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Ring the clinic directly | Ask: “Do you bulk bill all Medicare patients?” | Quickest confirmation |
| healthdirect.gov.au | Search GP finder, filter by bulk billing | Finding new clinics |
| MyMedicare via myGov | Check clinic details in your registration | Registered patients |
| Visit the clinic in person | Ask reception before booking | Walk-in confirmation |
The most reliable method is still a direct phone call. BBPIP participation status isn’t always visible to patients via MyMedicare — it’s primarily an administrative tool for clinics.
Who’s Already Enrolled in MyMedicare?
As of early 2026, millions of Australians have registered. But if you haven’t yet, you’re not missing out on bulk billing itself — you might just be missing the extended telehealth options and care coordination benefits.
These groups benefit most from registering:
- People with chronic conditions needing regular GP management reviews
- Older Australians wanting longer telehealth sessions
- Parents of children under 16 (already priority bulk billing patients)
- Concession card holders and DVA patients who want a formalised care relationship
- Anyone who wants their GP to have a clearer picture of their health history
What If Your GP Isn’t on MyMedicare?
Some practices — particularly smaller or rural clinics — haven’t enrolled in MyMedicare yet. That doesn’t mean they don’t bulk bill. It just means they haven’t set up the registration system.
Here’s the thing: If your GP isn’t on MyMedicare and you’d like them to enrol, the simplest approach is to ask at reception. Clinics can register through Services Australia’s Health Professional Online Services (HPOS) portal. It’s free and takes a few hours to process.
If you’re looking for a new bulk-billing GP who’s already enrolled, healthdirect.gov.au lets you search by location and filter by bulk billing status — it’s the fastest tool available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is MyMedicare registration compulsory?
No. It’s completely voluntary. You can access bulk billing and Medicare benefits without registering. The main benefits are longer telehealth consultations and better care coordination for chronic conditions.
Can I be registered with more than one GP on MyMedicare?
You can register with one practice at a time, but you can change your registered practice if you move or switch GPs. There’s no cost or penalty for switching.
What is BBPIP in plain terms?
It’s a bonus payment the government makes to clinics that agree to bulk bill every single patient — not just concession card holders. The clinic gets an extra 12.5% on all Medicare payments in exchange for committing to universal bulk billing.
How do I know if my clinic will bulk bill me specifically?
Ring ahead and ask: “Do you bulk bill all patients, including those without a concession card?” That’s the only way to know for certain before your appointment.
Does MyMedicare store my health records?
MyMedicare stores your registration and care planning information, not your full health records. Your GP’s clinical system holds your records, and your My Health Record (if you have one) is separate again.
What happens after the digital consent AOB system launches in July 2026?
From July 2026, GPs will need to obtain digital consent before claiming the bulk billing incentive for patients. This replaces the current paper-based process but doesn’t change whether you can be bulk billed — it’s an administrative change, not a patient eligibility change.
