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The Aletheia blog: You can have your own Medicare card
Growing Up

the green card in your wallet: getting your own medicare card at 15

Here is a small fact that makes a surprisingly big difference: in Australia, once you turn 15, you can get your own Medicare card. It is free. You can apply online. And almost nobody mentions it.

Most of us grow up as a line on a parent’s card. Someone else holds it, someone else books the appointment, and you are just the name being called in the waiting room. That makes sense when you are seven. It makes a lot less sense when you are 16 and trying to work out who to talk to about your mental health, your skin, your periods or your sexual health.

So let’s talk about what the card actually is, what changes as you get older, and why we think it belongs on every young person’s “things I wish I knew earlier” list.

First, what Medicare actually does

Medicare is Australia’s public health insurance scheme. It covers some or all of the cost of things like GP visits, many specialist appointments and tests, and treatment as a public patient in a public hospital.

When a clinic bulk bills, it sends the bill straight to Services Australia and accepts the Medicare payment as the full fee. For you, that means paying nothing at the desk. When a clinic does not bulk bill, you pay upfront and Medicare gives part of it back.

Not every clinic bulk bills, and policies can differ between doctors at the same clinic. The fix is simple and slightly awkward until you have done it once: when you book, ask “Do you bulk bill for someone my age?” Since 1 November 2025, the extra Medicare incentive payments GPs receive for bulk billing have applied to every patient with a Medicare card, not just children under 16 and concession card holders, so it is always worth asking.

The ages that matter

The Royal Children’s Hospital’s teen health information sets out a rough path, and it is worth knowing:

  • From around 14: you can start seeing a doctor alone for at least part of the appointment.
  • From 14: Medicare will not be able to tell your parents details about your medical treatment, as the Better Health Channel puts it.
  • 15: you can usually get your own Medicare card.
  • 16: you can agree to most medical treatments yourself.

One honest caveat: the rules on consent for under-18s are not a single neat line. The RCH explains that a younger person can make some health decisions if they are old enough (usually around 14 and older), understand the risks and benefits, and it is safe. That is often called being a “mature minor”. It is less about a birthday and more about understanding.

Your own card will not fix a health system. But it does put your name, and your choices, at the top of the page.

Why your own card is a voice issue

At Aletheia, we talk a lot about speaking up in appointments. But speaking up starts before you are in the room. It starts with being able to get into the room at all.

Think about the young person who wants to ask about contraception but does not want to explain it at the dinner table. The one whose family does not talk about mental health. The one whose parent works long shifts and cannot drive them anywhere. The one who is figuring out their gender or sexuality and needs a safe first conversation. For all of them, needing to borrow a card is a small barrier that can quietly turn into “I’ll just leave it”.

Having your own card is not about keeping secrets from people who love you. Lots of young people choose to bring a parent along, and that can be great. It is about choice. You decide who comes in, what gets shared, and when.

What confidentiality does and does not mean

When you see a doctor on your own, what you talk about is generally kept private, including from your parents. That is the deal that lets people be honest.

There are limits, and you deserve to know them upfront. According to the RCH, a doctor may need to share information if they think you might hurt yourself, if someone else is hurting you, if someone else might get hurt, or in a health emergency. A good doctor will explain this at the start. If they do not, you can ask: “What stays between us?”

How to actually get it

The Australian Government’s Office for Youth confirms the card is free and you can apply online using your Medicare online account. Services Australia lists three ways: through myGov (select “My card”, then “Get a new card and number”), through the Express Plus Medicare app, or with a paper form, the “Application to copy or transfer from one Medicare card to another” (MS011). You can use a digital copy of your card straight away, and the physical card usually takes three to four weeks to arrive. Once you have it:

  • Take a photo of the front and save the number somewhere safe.
  • Bring it, or the digital version in the Express Plus Medicare app, to appointments and the pharmacy.
  • Keep your address and contact details up to date so letters and results reach you.

If you are not sure you are eligible, or your situation is complicated, Services Australia or a school wellbeing staff member can help you work it out.

What you can do

  • Check your age, then apply. If you are 15 or older, look up “apply for your own Medicare card” on the Services Australia website and set aside 15 minutes.
  • Practise the bulk billing question. “Do you bulk bill for someone my age?” One sentence, said once, gets easier forever after.
  • Know your free options. headspace centres support young people aged 12 to 25 with mental health, physical health, sexual health, and work and study. Many services are free or low cost.
  • Ask about privacy at the start. “Can you tell me what stays confidential?” is a completely normal question.
  • Tell a younger sibling or friend. Most people find out about this by accident. Be the reason someone finds out on purpose.

This post is general health literacy information, not medical, legal or financial advice. Rules can change, so check Services Australia for the latest.

In voice and solidarity,
The Aletheia Project

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