Category 3: Not entitled to Medicare benefits

Warning:

This information may not apply to the current year. Check the content carefully to ensure it is applicable to your circumstances.

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You can claim a full exemption for any period for which you have a Medicare entitlement statement from the Department of Human Services (now known as Services Australia) showing you were not entitled to Medicare benefits because you were a temporary resident for Medicare purposes, and either:

• you did not have any dependants for that period, or
• all your dependants were in an exemption category for that period.

To claim an exemption, you must first submit a Medicare entitlement statement to Medicare and receive a certification letter from them saying that you were not entitled to Medicare benefits for a particular period. You can claim the exemption for the period that Medicare has advised.

You need to submit a Medicare entitlement statement to Medicare each year you want to claim an exception.

For more information on how to apply for a Medicare entitlement statement as a temporary resident, go to the Department of Human Services (now known as Services Australia) website. External Link.

You also qualify for a full exemption under this category if:

• you were a member of a diplomatic mission or consular post in Australia (or a member of such a person's family and you were living with them)
• you were not an Australian citizen
• you do not ordinarily live in Australia, and either
  • you did not have any dependants for that period, or
  • all your dependants were in an exemption category for that period.