The PBS Safety Net Threshold

From 1 January 2023, the PBS Safety Net threshold for patients with a concession card will be $262.80 and for other eligible patients it will be $1,563.50.

The same general or concessional Safety Net threshold is applied to a family unit regardless of whether the unit consists of an individual, a couple or a family with dependent children. To be included in the same Safety Net family, the partners of a couple may be married or de facto, and of the same or opposite sex. A couple must be living together on a permanent basis, unless living separately due to illness.

After reaching the Safety Net threshold, general patients pay for further PBS prescriptions at the concessional co-payment rate and concession card holders are dispensed PBS prescriptions at no further charge for the remainder of that calendar year. In order to access the Safety Net arrangements, you need to maintain records of your PBS expenditure on a Prescription Record Form (PRF). These are available from all pharmacies. The value of the actual amount paid will be recorded on your PRF: that is, the general or concessional co-payment amount; the amount paid for under co-payment prescriptions or those who have had an eligible discretionary increased discount applied; and since 1 January 2016, less any allowable discount, up to a maximum of $1.00.

A Safety Net Entitlement card or Safety Net Concession Card can be issued by the pharmacist once the threshold is reached.

For further information about the PBS and Safety Net arrangements, ask your pharmacist, contact the PBS Information Line on 1800 020 613 (free call) or visit https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/when-you-spend-lot-pbs-medicines?context=22016.