PBS Prescription Costs Reduced to $25 for Medicare Card Holders
Eligible concession card holders to pay a maximum of $7.70 per PBS prescription until 2030
Australians are paying less for eligible prescription medicines following a reduction in the maximum patient co-payment under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), which came into effect on 1 January 2026. The maximum patient co-payment for PBS-listed medicines for general patients with a Medicare card has fallen from $31.60 to $25 per prescription. Eligible Commonwealth concession card holders will continue to pay a maximum of $7.70 per prescription until 2030.
Who is eligible for the reduced prices?
To access subsidised medicines under the PBS, patients generally need a valid Medicare card or an eligible Commonwealth concession card and a prescription from an authorised prescriber.Eligible concession cards include the Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and certain other approved cards. The reduced co-payment applies only to medicines listed on the PBS and subject to the scheme’s relevant conditions. Some medicines may have specific eligibility requirements, including restrictions on who can prescribe them, the medical conditions they can be used to treat, or the circumstances in which they are subsidised.
Why medicine costs may vary
The $25 and $7.70 amounts are maximum standard patient co-payments for eligible PBS prescriptions, rather than fixed prices for every medicine.Some medicines may cost less than the applicable co-payment. Patients may also pay additional charges if they choose a brand that attracts a brand premium. Medicines that are not listed on the PBS are not covered by these co-payment arrangements. Patients can check whether their medicine is PBS-listed by asking their doctor or pharmacist or searching the official PBS website.The changes aim to improve the affordability of subsidised medicines and help Australians manage prescription costs amid cost-of-living pressures.
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