Medicare

Medicare is Australia’s Universal Healthcare System. It is part of the Australian Federal Government’s Services Australia and provides free or rebated access to some health services and programs such as public hospitals, seeing a doctor, accessing mental healthcare and PBS-listed medications.

Currently Medicare’s records only allow for gender to be recorded as male or female. However, they mention on their website that for non-binary people they can add a note to your record.

If you have not legally updated your name, you are also able to ask Medicare to use your preferred name. You can also request to not have a gendered title used (eg. Ms, Mr, Mrs).

Check out out downloads section to make use of any of the templates we’ve developed to assist with updating your gender and name details.

Gender markers

To update your gender marker details with Services Australia you will need to visit a Services Australia Centre with the necessary supporting document/s (listed below). If you are unable to access a Services Australia Centre, you can post your request and certified copy of your supporting document/s to Medicare.

It is possible to update your Medicare, and Centrelink records at the same time, Child Support records are updated separately.

You need to provide one of the following supporting documents, a:

• statement from a Registered Medical Practitioner or Registered Psychologist verifying your gender; or

• valid passport (or other Australian travel document) specifying your preferred gender; or

• birth or registered details certificate which specifies your preferred gender; or

There is no fee for changing your gender marker with Services Australia. Please note that Service NSW does not deliver any Medicare related services.

Name and title

To update your legal name with Medicare, you will need to confirm your identity with Services Australia. The process is detailed here. An original, updated birth or change of name certificate is required . They cannot accept copies or certified copies.

We’ve developed a template you can use to inform Medicare, see downloads below.

You can update your personal file with a preferred name and also change your title without requiring supporting documentation. To update your this, you will need to visit a Services Australia Centre.

If you are unable to attend a Services Australia Centre, you can post your request to Medicare.

Getting your own Medicare card

Once you are 15 years or older, you are able to apply to have your own Medicare card, rather than being registered on a family card. For more information and to download the application form, go to Services Australia.

To make a complaint about Medicare, you can contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman which is a free and impartial service. You are able to get in touch with them using the online form at the link above, or by calling them on 1300 362 072. Find our more about seeking justice at Rights and Justice.

ACON’s Care Coordination team can support you to complain. For more information visit here.