Close to a million Australians are missing out on hundreds of dollars each, with a staggering $270 million in Medicare rebates sitting unclaimed across the nation. The primary reason, according to Services Australia, is that people have failed to update their bank account details with the government.
Who Is Owed Money and Where?
Services Australia general manager Hank Jongen told 7NEWS that, on average, each person is owed about $275. The unclaimed funds are not evenly distributed, with significant amounts waiting in every state and territory.
The state-by-state breakdown of the $270 million total is as follows:
- New South Wales: $85 million
- Victoria: $67 million
- Queensland: $54 million
- Western Australia: $32 million
- South Australia: $20 million
- Tasmania: $5 million
Perhaps surprisingly, the demographic most affected are young Australians aged 18 to 24. Approximately 250,000 people in this age bracket are owed money. Jongen explained that many young adults are unaware they need to provide their own personal bank details, even if they are still listed on a parent's Medicare card.
How to Claim Your Unpaid Medicare Rebate
Reclaiming the money is a straightforward process. Australians simply need to log into their myGov account, access the linked Medicare service, and ensure their bank details are current and correct.
"You just follow the prompts to check your bank account details," Jongen said. "If you're owed money, we'll tell you how much you're owed. And once you update your bank account details, you'll be paid that cash within three working days."
Jongen noted that many people use their Medicare card at the doctor and don't give it another thought. "When they change bank accounts, it doesn't occur to them to update Medicare," he said. Awareness campaigns typically lead to an immediate drop in unclaimed rebates as people realise the money is waiting for them.
What If You Can't Access Medicare Online?
For those who cannot access their Medicare account online, Services Australia encourages them to contact the agency directly for assistance. Staff can help verify details and ensure any owed benefits are processed.
With such a significant sum of money left unclaimed, the message from Services Australia is clear: it's worth taking a few minutes to check your details. Updating your information via myGov could see hundreds of dollars returned to your pocket in a matter of days.
