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Medical exemption from Medicare levy

When you can claim a full or half exemption from the Medicare levy.

Last updated 29 June 2023

Conditions for medical exemption from Medicare levy

You may be able to claim a full or half Medicare levy exemption if you satisfy both of the following conditions:

  1. One of the following Category 1 medical conditions applied during all or part of the income year
    • you were a blind pensioner
    • you received sickness allowance from Centrelink (allowance ceased 20 September 2020)
    • you were entitled to full free medical treatment for all conditions under either
      • Defence Force arrangements
      • Veterans’ Affairs Repatriation Health Card (Gold Card).
  2. During the period you met a condition above, you also met one of the conditions listed in the table below.

You can claim this exemption when you lodge your income tax return. This is also known as an exemption under Category 1.

Conditions and their applied Medicare levy exemption

Condition

Exemption that applies

You had no dependants.

Full

Each of your dependants (including your spouse) either:

  • was in one of the exemption categories
  • had to pay the Medicare levy.

 

Full

You had dependent children who were not in an exemption category but who were also dependants of your spouse, and your spouse either:

  • had to pay the Medicare levy
  • met at least one of the medical conditions and you have completed a family agreement stating that your spouse will pay half of the levy for your joint dependants.

 

Full

You had at least one dependant (for example, a spouse) who:

  • was not in an exemption category, and
  • didn't have to pay the Medicare levy.

 

Half

You were single or separated and you:

  • had a dependent child who was not in a Medicare levy exemption category, and
  • were entitled to Family Tax Benefit Part AExternal Link or the rental assistance component of Family Tax Benefit Part A for that child, and
  • were in a shared care arrangement.

 

  • for the days that you had care of your dependent child – Half
  • for the days that you did not have care of your dependent child – Full

 

You had a spouse who met at least one of the medical conditions and you had a dependent child who was:

  • not in an exemption category, and
  • dependent on both of you.

 

Either you or your spouse can claim a full exemption and the other can claim a half exemption by completing a family agreement.

Example: can claim a half exemption from paying the Medicare levy

Paul holds a Department of Veteran's Affairs Gold Card and is entitled to full free medical treatment for all conditions.

Paul's spouse, Mary, isn't in a Medicare levy exemption category. However, she doesn’t have to pay the Medicare levy because her taxable income is under the Medicare levy low-income threshold.

Paul is eligible to claim a half exemption from paying the Medicare levy.

When Paul completes his tax return, we work out the Medicare levy exemption automatically for him.

End of example

Family agreement for Medicare levy exemption

A family agreement is a written agreement signed by you and your spouse. It's an agreement stating who will claim the full exemption and who will claim the half exemption.

You complete a family agreement only if both you and your spouse would have to pay the Medicare levy if you were not in an exemption category.

You don't need to send this agreement to us unless requested. If you fail to keep the agreement, both of you may become liable for the Medicare levy.

The agreement must contain:

  • the statement – 'We agree that the Medicare levy exemption in respect of our dependants for the 2022–23 year will be claimed as follows'
    • name of person claiming the full exemption
    • name of person claiming the half exemption
    • your signature (with date of signature)
    • your spouse's signature (with date of signature).

The agreement must be signed on or before the date the person claiming the full exemption lodges their tax return, unless the Commissioner of Taxation allows further time.

For information on other Medicare levy exemptions, see Medicare levy exemption.

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