What is a Safety Net Family?
This topic provides information on what makes up a Safety Net Family. Some frequently asked questions regarding Safety Net families are also covered.
For information on how to modify a patient's Safety Net or how to link patients in a family, see Update a Patient's Details.
A Safety Net family consists of the Medicare card holder and:
- Their spouse/de facto spouse - If a person marries or commences a de facto relationship during the year, the new family members’ names (including dependent children) may be added to the prescription record form. Prescriptions that were supplied before the marriage/de facto relationship began can be counted towards the new family’s threshold limit.
- Dependent children - A dependent child is 16 years of age or under, for whom the Medicare card holder or their spouse is wholly or substantially responsible. This responsibility includes the right to make decisions concerning the daily care of the child.
- Dependent students - A dependent student must be under the age of 25, studying full-time and wholly or substantially dependent on the Medicare card holder or their spouse.
If a family member dies, prescriptions that were purchased during the year for that person and recorded on the family prescription record form can still count towards the family Safety Net threshold.
Examples of groups who are not considered a family for Safety Net purposes are:
- full-time students over 25 years of age and their parents
- separated couples
- two or more adult siblings
- an adult and his/her parent(s)
Frequently Asked Questions
One parent holds a Centrelink concession card and the other family members are general patients. Are they a Safety Net family?
Yes. The family may choose to apply for either of the following:
-
A Safety Net concession card
This allows general prescriptions to be recorded on the prescription record form at the general rate, and for concession prescriptions to be recorded at the concession rate.
Once the general Safety Net threshold is reached all family members are entitled to receive prescriptions at the concession rate for the remainder of the calendar year.
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A Safety Net entitlement card
General and concession prescriptions must be counted at the concession rate, until the concession threshold is reached.
All family members are entitled to receive medicine at no charge for the remainder of the calendar year.
A person or family changes their eligibility status during the year. Which card do they apply for?
A person or family should apply for the Safety Net card which is relevant to them at the time of application. If the person or family has recently obtained concession status, an application can be made for a Safety Net entitlement card. Any supplies previously made at the general rate will need to be converted and counted as concession entries towards the concession threshold. If the person or family has lost their Centrelink concession and now has general patient status, an application can be made for a Safety Net card. Any previous supplies made at the concession rate will be counted towards the general threshold.
An 18 year old living at home and not a student has a Centrelink Health Care card. Can his or her prescriptions be counted with the rest of the family?
No. Children over 16 years of age who are not dependent students cannot be included with the rest of the family for the Safety Net whether or not they hold a Centrelink Health Care card.