In which situation should the medical office stop payment on a check?

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When you access medical services, you can be bulk billed or given a patient account. Bulk billing is when your doctor bills Medicare directly and accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment for their service. This means you do not have any out-of-pocket expenses. It is called bulk billing because the GP practice bills Medicare in 'bulk', that is, a collection of consultation services are billed to Medicare at the same time.

A patient account is when your doctor charges you a fee and you pay. You can then claim your Medicare benefit. Medicare may not cover the entire cost that you paid. The difference between the total account and your Medicare benefit is called a 'gap payment'.

If you need to see a doctor, you can ask if they bulk bill, and if they don't you can ask about the expected gap payment.

More information on bulk billing can be found at the Services Australia bulk billing page.

The benefits are paid straight into your bank account. You can claim your Medicare benefit in a number of ways such as:

• at your doctor's office
• through your Medicare Online account
• via the Express Plus mobile app
• by mail

There are other services that are related to Medicare, such as the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register and the Australian Organ Donor Register. A list of all Medicare services can be viewed at Services Australia.

For all Medicare general enquiries phone 132 011 (24hrs a day, 7 days a week). For further contact information go to the Services Australia website.

Australian Taxation Office (Medicare levy), Services Australia (Medicare)

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Last reviewed: February 2020

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You will have a HELP debt for any units of study you did not withdraw from before the census date. If you have any questions about withdrawing, you can read Withdrawing from study.

You can only apply to have your HELP debt cancelled if you meet 'special circumstances'.

Your HELP debt will not be cancelled for any units you successfully completed.

Your HELP debt will not be cancelled if you withdrew from study after the census date because you changed your mind.

VET FEE-HELP students only

If you experienced 'unacceptable conduct' by your VET provider, go here for information about how to cancel your VET FEE-HELP debt.

Special circumstances

To meet special circumstances, you need to show that what affected you:

• was beyond your control;
• did not make the full impact on you until on or after the census date(s) of the unit(s); and
• made it not practicable for you to complete the unit(s).

You apply for special circumstances with your university or higher education provider and they will ask you to provide supporting documentation.

Your provider must receive your application within 12 months of your withdrawal day of that unit(s).

Your provider may give you more time if it was not possible for you to apply within 12 months.

If you didn't officially withdraw, then your application must be made within 12 months after the period which you undertook (or were to undertake) that unit.

Can I appeal the decision?

If you are not happy with your provider's decision, you can apply for an internal review. This must be done in writing within 28 days.

If you are not happy with your provider’s internal review decision, you can apply for an external review from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) within 28 days.

How can I check if my debt has been cancelled?

You can login to myHELPbalance with your Commonwealth Higher Education Student Support Number (CHESSN). A CHESSN is a unique identifying number. It is important that you only have one CHESSN.

You can find your CHESSN on your Commonwealth Assistance Notice (CAN), which is sent to you by your provider.

You can also view your HELP debt online using myGov.

What if I have to make a compulsory repayment?

You can talk to the Australian Tax Office about deferring your compulsory repayment or organise another repayment option until your debt is cancelled.