Complex eligibility and entitlement type of newborn child enrolments in Medicare 011-19042334
This document explains the Medicare eligibility requirements for a newborn child born in Australia. Also, the processes to follow when enrolling a newborn child where the maximum number of persons are already on Medicare enrolment. The applicant has conditional migrant entitlement, parents and newborn to be on new Medicare card and applicant (parent) is under 15 years of age.
On this page:
Checking applicant's Medicare entitlement type before adding newborn
Newborn child enrolment applicant is not the birth parent
Enrol newborn when maximum number of persons are already on the Medicare enrolment
Newborn child enrolment when applicant has Conditional Migrant entitlement
Parents and newborn to be on new Medicare card
Newborn child enrolment when applicant (parent) is under 15 years of age
Checking applicant's Medicare entitlement type before adding newborn
Table 1: this table describes how Service Officers check the applicants (parents) Medicare entitlement type in the Consumer Directory Maintenance System (CDMS) to determine if the newborn can be added to their Medicare number.
Step |
Action |
1 |
Checking applicants entitlement type + Read more ... Before enrolling the newborn, check the Medicare card number given to determine the entitlement type of the applicant.
This will list all members on the card. Notate the entitlement type of the applicant (Etm Type field):
The newborn is eligible for Medicare on the same terms as the parent who has the highest Medicare entitlement cover. Note: confirm parents visa has not been refused, before newborns birth, via DIAC Link, see Background page for more details. See Resources page for details about determining entitlement type for a newborn. |
Newborn child enrolment applicant is not the birth parent
Table 2: this table outlines the enrolment process Service Officers follow when the applicant is not the birth parent.
Step |
Action |
1 |
Applicant is a grandparent or other relative (or nominated person) + Read more ... If the applicant is not the birth parent, proof of birth and documents to confirm the child is in their care is required to enrol the newborn. The applicant (who is not the birth parent) needs to complete a Medicare enrolment application (MS004) form or lodge their enrolment online via Medicare online accounts and provide acceptable proof of birth and relationship documents. See Resources page for a list of acceptable proof of birth documents. Evidence that the child is in the care of a person other than the birth parent: Evidence that the child is in the applicants care, such as:
If insufficient documents are supplied, tell the applicant verbally or by letter that more documents are needed. See Resources page for a link to the Medicare enrolment application and more information required letter (z0137). |
2 |
Applicant is a caseworker or delegate from a child protection agency + Read more ... Child protection agency requests must only be actioned by Medicare Eligibility trained Service Officers. If not trained contact Medicare Eligibility Local Peer Support (LPS). |
Enrol newborn when maximum number of persons are already on the Medicare enrolment
Table 3: this table describes how Service Officers enrol a newborn when 9 people are already associated with the family Medicare card.
Step |
Action |
1 |
CDMS Home page + Read more ... To list all members on the Medicare card:
|
2 |
Group members + Read more ... Are all 9 members still associated with the Medicare card?
|
3 |
All members active + Read more ... Newborn must be enrolled onto their own card with the applicant (parent) as the group contact. See Process newborn enrolment to their own Medicare card in CDMS table. Procedure ends here. |
4 |
Non active members + Read more ... Contact the applicant to discuss the option to transfer all remaining members to a new Medicare card number. Is contact successful?
|
5 |
Applicant contacted + Read more ...
Note: care must be taken when transferring a family to a new card to make sure children are not removed from another existing card. If unsure get help. See Transfer person to new or existing Medicare card in CDMS table. Procedure ends here. |
6 |
Applicant cannot be contacted + Read more ...
|
Newborn child enrolment when applicant has Conditional Migrant entitlement
Table 4: this table outlines the enrolment process Service Officers follow for a newborn when it has been identified that the parent has a Conditional Migrant entitlement.
Step |
Action |
1 |
Other parents details provided on FA081 form or MS004 form + Read more ... The applicant is a Conditional Migrant (P) and the only person listed on the Medicare card, and details have been provided on the Newborn Child Declaration (FA081) form or Medicare enrolment application (MS004) form for the partner (for example, other birth parent). Confirm the entitlement type of the other parent in the Consumer Directory Maintenance System (CDMS). If it has been determined that the other parent is an Australian citizen, migrant or New Zealand citizen, enrol the newborn onto their Medicare card with their entitlement type. The Resources page has information about determining a newborns entitlement type. Add a comment in Group in CDMS for applicant: |
2 |
Other parent’s details have not been provided on FA081 form or MS004 form + Read more ... Contact must be made with the applicant. Is the applicant contacted?
|
3 |
Applicant contacted + Read more ...
Is the partner available?
|
4 |
Partner is available + Read more ...
Procedure ends here. |
5 |
Partner is not available + Read more ... Confirm with the applicant the partners Medicare entitlement (if known). For example:
Note: do not search partners details in the Consumer Directory Maintenance System (CDMS) without their consent. If applicant confirms the partners Medicare eligibility is Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen or Migrant (permanent resident), tell the applicant to either:
In the following circumstances, the newborn can be enrolled on the applicants Medicare card with the same entitlement as the applicant:
See Processing newborn child enrolments in Medicare. Procedure ends here. |
6 |
Unable to contact applicant + Read more ...
Note: if a parent advises at a later date that the newborn should have a different entitlement type, refer to Medicare Eligibility Local Peer Support (LPS). |
Parents and newborn to be on new Medicare card
Table 5: this table outlines the enrolment process Service Officers follow when the applicant and partner request to go on a new Medicare card with the newborn as a family.
Step |
Action |
1 |
Parents request to be enrolled together as a family + Read more ... If an applicant requests for both themselves, their partner and newborn to be transferred to a new Medicare card as a family, either by phone or face-to-face:
If the new parents:
Care must be taken to make sure that the children are only copied onto the new Medicare card. Do not transfer them off their other biological parents card unless the other parents consent is given or exceptional circumstances apply. Note: if other children (other than the newborn) are requested to be included on the new family card (and they are not currently enrolled on either existing card of the applicant or partner), tell the applicant and partner that:
To copy or transfer a person or child to another Medicare card, see the Transfer person to new or existing Medicare card in CDMS table. |
Newborn child enrolment when applicant (parent) is under 15 years of age
Table 6: this table outlines the enrolment process Service Officers follow when the applicant (parent of the newborn) is under 15 years of age.
Step |
Action |
1 |
Is applicant enrolled on their own Medicare card? + Read more ...
|
2 |
Applicant enrolled on their parents Medicare card + Read more ... Contact the applicant (parent of newborn) by phone or face-to-face. Is the applicant contacted?
|
3 |
Applicant contacted + Read more ...
or
|
4 |
Applicant cannot be contacted + Read more ... If unable to contact the applicant the parent must not be transferred to their own card:
|