Yes, Medicare Part D plans often cover 90-day prescription supplies, especially for maintenance medications, through mail-order pharmacies or network retail pharmacies, which can save you time and money; you just need to check with your specific plan to see if your drug qualifies and if there are any network restrictions.
Getting a 90-day supply of medicine is easy — here's how:
A pharmacy can get you up to a 90-day supply even if your prescription is only for 30 days. All you need is enough refills and to have taken the medicine before. Your healthcare provider can write your prescription to the pharmacy for a 90-day supply.
Patients pay a PBS co-payment to the pharmacist for each prescription that is dispensed. For patients who pay the full general co-payment of $31.60 and where the cost of their PBS medicine is over this amount, the full co-payment of $31.60 will be saved every second month for each medicine with a 60-day quantity.
Medicare subsidises a large number of health services and products. You can use your Medicare card to access medical services, hospital services for public patients, surgical services, prescription medicines, eye tests, pathology tests, imaging and scans.
The number of scripts for concessional beneficiaries to reach the Safety Net threshold was reduced from 60 to 48 scripts on 1 January 2020.
You can get free NHS prescriptions if:
The PBS 20-day rule (Safety Net early supply rule) in Australia means an early refill of a PBS medicine (within 20 days for most, or 50 days for 60-day scripts) doesn't count towards your PBS Safety Net threshold, so you pay the full co-payment, not the discounted amount, as it's meant to prevent unnecessary early fills. Pharmacists can override this for genuine emergencies (like lost medication) by endorsing the prescription as an "immediate supply," but it's tracked electronically.
If you have a Medicare card and reach the Safety Net threshold, you'll pay the concessional rate of $7.70 for each PBS medicine for the rest of the year. If you have a pensioner or concession card and reach the Safety Net, you'll get your PBS medicines for free for the rest of the year.
Medicare does not cover:
medical and hospital services which are not clinically necessary, or surgery solely for cosmetic reasons; ambulance services; and. emergency department administration or facility fees.
To avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) in Australia, the primary method for high-income earners is to take out an appropriate private hospital insurance policy that covers you for the entire financial year (July 1 to June 30). This policy must have a low excess (under $750 for singles, $1500 for couples/families), not just 'extras' cover, and be in place before the financial year starts to avoid liability for any gaps, say Nanak Accountants and Qantas Insurance. Alternatively, you might be exempt if your income is below the threshold or you qualify for other specific Medicare levy exemptions, according to the ATO.
You can also apply using the PPC order line on 0300 330 1341. Your PPC will be valid from the day you make the phone call, unless you request otherwise. Some pharmacies may be able to sell you a 3-month PPC or the HRT PPC, which will be valid from the day you purchase it.
To qualify for a 60-day prescription, you must: live with a stable ongoing health condition. have discussed your medication with your prescriber and be assessed as suitable.
In 2025, all Part D plans have an out-of-pocket maximum of $2,000. This means that once Members have paid $2,000 for Part D covered prescriptions, they will pay nothing for covered prescriptions at the pharmacy through December 31. This is significantly lower than the 2024 out-of-pocket maximum of $8,000.
(For a 30-day mail order prescription, you may order the refill a few days earlier, to ensure you receive the refill before the medication on hand is used.) For a 90-day retail or mail order prescription, request the refill when you have no more than a 14-day supply remaining.
If you need regular medication for a stable long-term health condition, your GP can prescribe a maximum supply of three months. If you're taking a course of medication that will finish during your holiday, then get advice from your GP. They may be able to give you a repeat prescription.
The out-of-pocket maximum for prescription drugs covered by your plan ($2,100 in 2026). The prescription drug law caps your out-of-pocket drug costs for covered drugs at $2,100 in 2026. This is true for everyone with Medicare drug coverage, even if you don't participate in the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.
Medicare does not cover:
Visit Medicare.gov/coverage to find out if your test, item, or service is covered. Check your “Medicare & You” handbook for: A general list of services covered by Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance), like inpatient hospital stays, home health services, hospice care, and care in a skilled nursing facility.
The quickest way to make a claim is at your doctor's office straight after you pay. You can also claim a Medicare benefit online, by mail or in person at a Services Australia office.
Repeat prescriptions are issued only for a period of 1 or 2 months. If you are going abroad for a long period of time, we can issue a 3 months prescription as a one-off.
You're entitled to free NHS prescriptions if you're:
Medicare cardholders who spend $1,647.90 on PBS medicines in a calendar year, can qualify for the PBS Safety Net. This amount is known as the safety net threshold. For concession cardholders the threshold is lower. They will reach the safety net when they spend more than $277.20 in a calendar year.
New South Wales
In NSW, standard prescriptions align with the national 12-month validity period. Schedule 8 medications have a 6-month validity period. The NSW Health guidelines provide specific information on prescription requirements in the state.
If you take medicine regularly, you'll usually have a repeat prescription. This means you can order your medicine without having to see a GP every time. It's important to request the prescription up to 5 working days before you need your medicine.
Risks of Taking Multiple Medicines
You may be more likely to have side effects. Because most medicines can have side effects, the more medicines you take, the more likely you will have side effects. Taking certain medicines can also increase the risk for falls. You are at higher risk for drug interactions.