PBS Safety Net Tracker 2026: How to Hit the Threshold Faster
Updated January 2026 · 2026 thresholds: General $1,748.20 / Concessional $277.20
The PBS Safety Net is one of the most valuable but underused programs in Australia's health system. Once your out-of-pocket PBS spending reaches the threshold, general patients drop from $25.00 per script to just $7.70, and concessional patients pay nothing at all for the rest of the calendar year. If you or your family take multiple medications, tracking your spending toward this threshold can result in significant savings.
Safety Net Tracker
Based on 2026 PBS Safety Net thresholds. Assumes all prescriptions are PBS-listed and no brand premiums apply.
2026 Safety Net Thresholds
Tips to Reach the Safety Net Sooner
Register your Prescription Record Form (PRF) at the start of the year, not when you think you are getting close. Combine your family members' prescriptions on one form, as partners and dependent children can share a single threshold. Use the same pharmacy where possible, as many pharmacies track your spending digitally. Keep all receipts as backup. If you switch pharmacies, make sure your new pharmacy records are transferred.
Safety Net vs 60-Day Scripts
If you use 60-day prescriptions, you will accumulate fewer co-payments per year, which may delay or prevent you from reaching the Safety Net. For patients who were previously reaching the Safety Net, it is worth using the co-payment calculator to compare whether 60-day scripts or Safety Net savings provide better value in your situation. In most cases, 60-day scripts still provide a net saving, but the answer depends on your specific number of medications.
Important Reminders
Brand premiums do not count toward the Safety Net threshold. If you are paying a brand premium, consider switching to a generic alternative so that 100% of your co-payment counts toward the threshold. The Safety Net year resets on 1 January, so spending from the previous year does not carry over. Once you reach the threshold, your pharmacist must issue a Safety Net card before you can receive the reduced rate.
How Does the Safety Net Threshold Work?
What Counts Towards the Threshold
- Standard PBS co-payments ($25.00 general / $7.70 concessional)
- Under co-payment purchases (PBS medicines priced below $25.00 — you pay the lower price, and this amount still counts)
- Co-payments from all family members registered on the same Safety Net card
What Does NOT Count
- Brand premiums — the extra charge for choosing a brand-name medicine over a generic equivalent. Only the standard co-payment portion counts.
- Non-PBS medicines — private prescriptions, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, supplements
- PBS medicines purchased without a valid Medicare card on file
- Scripts filled at pharmacies not linked to your Safety Net record — if you use multiple pharmacies, some co-payments may be missing from your tally
Family Safety Net
You can combine co-payments from multiple family members into a single Safety Net record. Eligible family members include you and your spouse or partner, and dependent children (under 16, or under 25 if a full-time student). Pooling family co-payments means you reach the threshold faster. For example, if you and your partner each take 4 medicines monthly, that is 96 scripts per year combined — well above the ~70 needed for a general patient. To set up a family Safety Net, visit Services Australia or call the Medicare general enquiries line.
Calculate When You Will Hit the Safety Net
General Patient Calculator
Formula: $1,748.20 ÷ (scripts per month × $25.00) = months to reach Safety Net
Concessional Patient Calculator
Formula: $277.20 ÷ (scripts per month × $7.70) = months to reach Safety Net
60-Day Dispensing Changes the Maths
If some of your medicines are on 60-day dispensing, you fill fewer scripts per year — which means it takes longer to reach the Safety Net. Each 60-day eligible medicine reduces your annual script count from 12 to 6 for that medicine. For most patients, the savings from 60-day dispensing (paying half as many co-payments) outweigh the delayed Safety Net benefit. But if you are close to the threshold, it is worth calculating both scenarios.
Example: A general patient takes 6 medicines. Without 60-day dispensing, that is 72 scripts/year and they would reach the Safety Net around September. If 4 medicines switch to 60-day dispensing, the annual count drops to 48 scripts — below the ~70 needed, so they may not reach the Safety Net at all.
How to Track Your Safety Net Progress
Option 1: Medicare Online (myGov)
The most reliable way to track your Safety Net. Log in to myGov, go to your Medicare account, and navigate to PBS Safety Net under the Claims section. Your balance is updated automatically when pharmacies process your PBS scripts.
Option 2: Express Plus Medicare App
Download the Express Plus Medicare app (iOS or Android), log in with your myGov credentials, and check your Safety Net balance anytime from your phone.
Option 3: PBS Safety Net Card (Physical)
Ask your pharmacy for a physical PBS Safety Net card. Each time you fill a script, the pharmacist stamps or records the co-payment. When the card reaches the threshold, the pharmacy can issue a Safety Net entitlement on the spot. Downside: only works if you use the same pharmacy every time, or bring the card to every pharmacy you visit.
Option 4: Ask Your Pharmacist
Your pharmacist can check your Safety Net balance through the PBS system. If you are unsure where you stand, simply ask at the counter.
5 Tips to Maximise Your Safety Net
- Register your family — combine co-payments from all eligible family members. Two adults each taking 4 medicines monthly generates 96 scripts/year, easily reaching the general threshold.
- Use one pharmacy (or link them) — if you use multiple pharmacies, ensure they are all recording against the same Medicare Safety Net record.
- Fill scripts early in the year — front-loading means you reach the threshold earlier and enjoy more months of free or cheaper prescriptions.
- Do not forget under co-payment medicines — if any of your generic medicines are priced below $25.00, these purchases still count towards the Safety Net.
- Check your balance regularly — log in to myGov or the Medicare app every couple of months to confirm your co-payments are being recorded correctly.
What Happens When You Reach the Safety Net?
- You will be notified — via Medicare online, or your pharmacist may flag it when processing your next script
- You receive a Safety Net entitlement — a physical card or digital record linked to your Medicare number
- Present it at the pharmacy — show the card or confirm your Medicare number when filling scripts
- General patients pay $7.70 per script, concessional patients pay nothing for the remainder of the calendar year
- The Safety Net resets on 1 January the following year
Note: Brand premiums may still apply after reaching the Safety Net if you choose a brand-name medicine over a generic.
Safety Net and Other PBS Programmes
Know Where You Stand
The PBS Safety Net is designed to protect you — but only if you are tracking it. Every year, Australians miss out on months of free prescriptions because they did not know they had crossed the threshold, or because their co-payments were not being recorded properly. Check your balance via myGov or the Medicare app today, register your family to combine co-payments, and use one pharmacy or ensure all are linked to your Medicare record.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PBS Safety Net?
The PBS Safety Net is a government program that reduces your prescription costs once you or your family spend a certain amount on PBS medicines in a calendar year. After reaching the threshold, general patients pay $7.70 per script (instead of $25.00) and concessional patients pay nothing for the remainder of the year.
What is the PBS Safety Net threshold for 2026?
For 2026, the general patient Safety Net threshold is $1,748.20. The concessional patient threshold is $277.20. These thresholds are updated on 1 January each year, though the concessional threshold is currently frozen.
How do I register for the PBS Safety Net?
You need to keep a Prescription Record Form (PRF) to track your PBS spending. Ask your pharmacist for one, or download the PB240 form from the Services Australia website. Record every PBS prescription you fill. Once you reach the threshold, your pharmacist can issue a Safety Net card. Many pharmacies also track your spending digitally if you fill your scripts consistently at the same location.
Can I combine family prescriptions for the Safety Net?
Yes. You can combine PBS spending for yourself, your partner, and dependent children on a single Prescription Record Form. This helps families reach the threshold faster. Partners can be married or de facto, and of the same or opposite sex. The same threshold amount applies regardless of whether the family unit is an individual, a couple, or a family with children.
When does the PBS Safety Net year reset?
The PBS Safety Net resets on 1 January every year. Any spending from the previous year does not carry over. This means it is important to start tracking your spending from the beginning of each year, especially if you are likely to reach the threshold.
Check your PBS costs with Internest
Search your medication to find generics, check 60-day eligibility, and calculate your Safety Net.
Search MedicinesGeneral information only, not medical or financial advice. Prices shown are standard PBS co-payments as published by the Australian Government Department of Health. Actual costs may vary. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for advice specific to your situation. Data sourced from PBS.gov.au.