What is the Pharmaceutical Benefit Scheme (PBS)?

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is run by the Australian Government to subsidise prescription medicines for Australians who have a Medicare card. If a medicine is subsidised under the PBS, you pay a lower price for the medicine, and the Government pays the rest. For more information, see pbs.gov.au.

If your cover includes pharmaceutical, you are able to claim the amount above the PBS patient co-payment (for the general population) up to the benefit amount.

Benefit excludes medicines or medications which are 

• prescriptions less than PBS co-payment

• available without a medical practitioner’s prescription

• not approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration

• prescribed for contraceptive purposes.