Medicare and diabetes
Medicare is Australia’s universal health care system and covers many health care costs. Here, you will find essential information on how Medicare supports people living with diabetes. It outlines the various services, benefits, and resources available under Medicare. With this information, you can navigate your healthcare options.
Medicare plans and rebates
You may be eligible for the following plans and rebates:
GP Management Plan
Once diagnosed with diabetes, your doctor may suggest a GP Management Plan. This plan of action will be put together and agreed on by yourself, your GP and the practice nurse. The plan will:
- Identify your health care needs
- Outline the services to be provided by your GP
- List the actions you need to take
Your GP may identify that you could also benefit from the assistance of other health care providers.
Team Care Arrangements
A Team Care Arrangement involves a minimum of two other health care professionals who will provide ongoing services in addition to your doctor.
Private health care providers who may be part of your Team Care Arrangements include:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health practitioner
- Chiropractor
- Diabetes educator
- Audiologist
- Exercise physiologist
- Dietitian
- Mental health worker
- Occupational therapist
- Osteopath
- Physiotherapist
- Podiatrist
- Psychologist
- Speech pathologist
Once a GP Management Plan and a Team Care Arrangement is in place you are eligible for 5 Medicare rebates per calendar year. You could use this to see more than one health care provider or you could have 5 visits to the one health care provider.
Type 2 diabetes
In addition, for people with type 2 diabetes, Medicare could fund one individual assessment and up to eight group sessions in a calendar year for you to see a:
- Diabetes educator
- Dietitian
- Exercise physiologist
Mental Health Treatment Plan
For people with a mental health condition, Medicare could fund up to ten individual sessions and up to an additional six sessions along with ten group therapy sessions in a calendar year for you to see a:
- Clinical psychologist
- Psychologist
- Occupational therapist
- Social worker
- Qualified medical practitioner
To check if you meet the requirements for these plans or rebates, speak to your doctor, as they need to create a mental health plan, just like to GP management plan. You can also check with Medicare on 132 011.
For further help please contact our advocacy staff or diabetes educators by calling 1300 136 588 or head to our contact us page.
Additional Medicare services
Other Medicare services which may be helpful include:
- Medicare Safety Net
- Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) – reduces the cost of a wide range of prescription medicines
- PBS Safety Net – reduces the cost of a wide range of prescription medicines
For more information about these Medicare services Visit Services Australia on managing chronic medical conditions.
Medicare updates their programs across the year, so it is worth visiting their website on a regular basis.
Medicare and cruise ships
Medicare benefits are only payable to cruise passengers if you are travelling between two Australian ports or the medical staff on the ship have Australian provider numbers.
Australians with diabetes are advised to take out travel insurance.