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FAQs from customers

Children and bank accounts

Deceased persons

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Children and bank accounts

Table 1

Item

Description

Is it a requirement that all children about to turn 14 years must register a bank account with Medicare?

What happens when a child turns 14 years and has not registered a bank account with Medicare?

It is not mandatory for children to register a bank account with Medicare
All children remain eligible for Medicare regardless if they have a registered bank account with Medicare
Medicare claims can still be submitted and assessed. However, Medicare benefits cannot be paid to the child until a bank account is registered for the child
If a person other than the child incurs the cost for the health service, the Medicare benefits can be paid to that person if they have:

been indicated as the claimant, and
registered a bank account with Medicare

See Services Australia website links:

Getting Medicare benefits
What happens when your child turns 14

Can the parent/caregiver of a child still access the child’s Medicare records to view or amend the bank account when the child turns 14 years?

No, Medicare records become private once a child turns 14 years
The child can:

create a myGov account and link Medicare services to view or amend bank accounts registered for them once they turn 14 years
call Medicare
visit a service centre

See Services Australia website link - What happens when your child turns 14.

If a customer registers a bank account for a child under 14 years on their Medicare card, then their partner wishes to register a different bank account for the same child, what will happen?

Only the Medicare card group contact person has access through their Medicare online account to register a bank account for a child on their Medicare card aged 13 years and 9 months
The Edit Bank Details screen in their Medicare online account is only available when there is not a valid bank account recorded in CDMS for that child
Once a bank account is registered for a child by the Medicare card group contact person, all other Medicare card group contacts do not have access to the Edit Bank Details screen for that child
Once the child turns 14 years, they can change the bank account if they wish

Can a customer register a bank account for younger or older children on their Medicare card?

Bank accounts are not usually registered for children under 14 years
Once children turn 14 years they must manage their own Medicare information:

through Medicare online details
by calling Medicare or visiting a service centre

Parents/caregivers no longer have access to their child over 14 years Medicare information
Not all children will know they should contact Medicare once they turn 14 years. The agency supports parents/caregivers to register a bank account for the child before the child turns 14 years. This makes sure Medicare benefits can be paid in future

Deceased persons

Table 2

Item

Description

If a claimant is deceased can a family member register a bank account for them?

No.

Only the executor of the deceased persons estate or the appointed administrator can register a bank account for a deceased person.

If a person was the Nominee or Power of Attorney for a person who is now deceased, can they register a bank account for that person?

No.

Nominee and Power of Attorney arrangements stop when a person is deceased. Only the executor or the appointed administrator can register a bank account for a deceased person.