Recording Medicare card numbers for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and Medicare Safety Net 101-06100030

Centrelink will attempt to collect a customer and/or their dependent children's Medicare card number(s) upon request from Medicare. A customer can have multiple Medicare cards and therefore multiple numbers. Only one valid complete 10 digit number needs to be recorded. Once the number has been recorded, it will be passed to Medicare electronically during overnight processing.

Customers may also supply their Medicare card number even though a request has not been made by Centrelink. The Medicare card number should be recorded on the Centrelink computer system.

Customers are asked to provide their Medicare card number by phone.

If a customer declines to provide their Medicare card number for PBS purposes, or withholds their consent for the number to be sent to Medicare, the customer's Centrelink entitlements will not be adversely affected - no cancellations, suspensions, or other penalties. The decision by the customer should be recorded on the customer's Centrelink record.

DVA issues 2 types of cards for its customers - a Gold Card and a White Card. DVA White Card holders receive a Medicare Card. DVA Gold Card holders do not receive a Medicare Card.

If contacted by a White Card holder, advise them that they need only provide details of their Medicare card number and return the details in the reply-paid envelope they receive with the letter.

If contacted by a DVA Gold Card holder, explain that the letter was sent to them in error, apologise on behalf of Centrelink for any inconvenience this may have caused and assure the customer their DVA entitlements will not be affected.

Note: an individual's Medicare number can also be used for establishing a link with the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).