Almost two-thirds of Australians bulk-billed for all GP care amid extra incentives for doctors
News Source
β’Sun, 25 Oct 2026 14:00:06 GMT
π° What Happened
Almost two-thirds of Australians now see a GP without paying at the desk. The figure rose from 56% last year to 63% this year. The numbers come from a survey of 2,766 doctors.
Among the doctors surveyed, 26% said they bulk-bill every patient. That is up from 12% in 2025. The report links the jump to new federal bonuses for clinics.
Still, the rate is below 2019, when 70% of patients were bulk-billed for all their GP care. Doctors' groups say the trend is good but incomplete.
π The Backstory
Bulk billing means the doctor bills Medicare instead of the patient, so the visit costs nothing. Years of frozen rebates pushed many clinics to charge a gap fee instead.
The government added a 12.5% top-up payment for clinics that bulk-bill every eligible service. The share of people delaying a GP visit over cost fell from 8.8% to 7.7%.
Experts warn the survey covers only about 7% of doctors. They say free visits are not the same as good care, and rebates should reflect the real cost of complex cases.
π― Why It Matters
A free doctor visit saves families money and helps catch illness early. But experts say access and quality of care matter just as much as the bill.
Almost two-thirds of Australians now see a GP without paying at the desk. The figure rose from 56% last year to 63% this year. The numbers come from a survey of 2,766 doctors.
Among the doctors surveyed, 26% said they bulk-bill every patient. That is up from 12% in 2025. The report links the jump to new federal bonuses for clinics.
Still, the rate is below 2019, when 70% of patients were bulk-billed for all their GP care. Doctors' groups say the trend is good but incomplete.
Bulk billing means the doctor bills Medicare instead of the patient, so the visit costs nothing. Years of frozen rebates pushed many clinics to charge a gap fee instead.
The government added a 12.5% top-up payment for clinics that bulk-bill every eligible service. The share of people delaying a GP visit over cost fell from 8.8% to 7.7%.
Experts warn the survey covers only about 7% of doctors. They say free visits are not the same as good care, and rebates should reflect the real cost of complex cases.
A free doctor visit saves families money and helps catch illness early. But experts say access and quality of care matter just as much as the bill.