The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidises the cost of around 5,000 medicines for Australians. What you pay at the pharmacy depends on three things: whether the medicine is PBS-listed, whether you have a concession card, and whether you've crossed the PBS Safety Net threshold for the calendar year.
The 2026 numbers are below. So is the bit most people get wrong.
What the PBS is, in short
The PBS sets a maximum price for around 5,000 prescription medicines. The federal government pays most of the cost; you pay a fixed co-payment. Without the PBS, many medicines would cost hundreds or thousands of dollars per script. With the PBS, the most you pay per script is capped.
If a medicine is not PBS-listed, the pharmacy charges you the private price, set by the manufacturer and pharmacy. PBS-listed medicines are listed at pbs.gov.au.
2026 co-payment amounts
From 1 January 2026, the standard PBS co-payments are:
- General co-payment: $25.00 per script (general patients without a concession card)
- Concessional co-payment: $7.70 per script (people with a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, or DVA card)
These amounts are set by the federal government and reviewed each year. From 1 January 2026, the general co-payment dropped to $25 from $31.60 the year prior; the concessional rate is held at $7.70 until 2030 by the Cheaper Medicines reforms.
If your medicine costs less than the co-payment (a "below co-payment" medicine), you pay the actual price, not the full co-payment. This is common for some generics where the manufacturer's price has fallen below $25.
The PBS Safety Net: what it is and how it works
The Safety Net protects you from the cumulative cost of medicines over a calendar year. Once your family's eligible PBS spending hits the Safety Net threshold, your medicines drop to a lower rate (general patients) or become free (concession card holders) for the rest of the calendar year.
2026 Safety Net thresholds
- General patients: $1,860.40 per family per calendar year
- Concession card holders: $277.20 per family per calendar year
After you cross the threshold, you become eligible for a Safety Net card. Your subsequent scripts cost:
- $7.70 each for general patients (the same rate as concession card holders before threshold)
- Free for concession card holders
The thresholds reset each 1 January.
What counts toward the Safety Net
Most PBS-listed medicines count, including:
- The co-payment portion of any PBS script you fill
- The portion of certain pharmacy services charged at the PBS rate
What doesn't count:
- The brand premium (if you choose a more expensive brand when a cheaper generic is available)
- Private prescriptions that aren't PBS-listed
- Over-the-counter medicines you buy without a prescription (paracetamol, etc.)
- Therapeutic Group Premium for certain newer medicines
If you're unsure whether a particular medicine counts, ask the pharmacist before they dispense, or check your Prescription Record Form (PRF) at the end of each fill.
How to track your Safety Net spending across pharmacies
Australia's pharmacy system tracks Safety Net spending federally, not per pharmacy. There are three ways to keep track of where you are against the threshold:
Method 1: Prescription Record Form (PRF)
The pharmacist updates a Prescription Record Form for you each time you fill a script. The PRF is a paper or printed-on-receipt log showing the dollar value of each fill, your running total, and the threshold you're working toward. If you fill scripts at multiple pharmacies, ask each one to update your PRF.
You can also download a blank PRF from Services Australia and ask any pharmacist to back-fill recent scripts.
Method 2: The Medicare app or Services Australia online
If you've linked Medicare to myGov, your PBS Safety Net total updates automatically. The Medicare app shows your year-to-date total under "PBS expenditure". This is the easiest method and updates within a few days of each fill.
Method 3: Automatic notification
Once you cross the threshold, the pharmacy that dispenses your threshold-crossing script can issue your Safety Net card on the spot. You don't have to apply separately. Carry the card and show it at every subsequent fill that calendar year.
How to apply for a Safety Net card if it wasn't issued automatically
If for some reason the threshold was crossed but no card was issued (for example you filled scripts at multiple pharmacies and none of them spotted the milestone), you can apply through:
- Online: through myGov / Services Australia
- By phone: 132 011
- In person: at any Centrelink or Medicare service centre
Applications take up to 28 days to process, but the card is backdated to the date you crossed the threshold, so any scripts filled in between will be eligible for refund of the difference.
What concession cards qualify for the lower rate
The concessional co-payment of $7.70 applies if you hold any of:
- Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)
- Health Care Card (HCC)
- Commonwealth Seniors Health Card (CSHC)
- Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Pensioner Concession Card or Gold Card
Show the card at every pharmacy fill. The pharmacy applies the concessional rate at the counter; there is no separate paperwork. If you're eligible but didn't show the card, you can ask for a refund of the difference within 12 months at the same pharmacy.
For more on what concession cards save you in practice, see our concession card pharmacy guide.
Why your prescription costs different amounts at different pharmacies
This is one of the most common questions Australians have about pharmacy pricing. There are three legitimate reasons:
- Brand premium: if your pharmacist substituted to a different brand of the same medicine, the brand premium may differ between pharmacies.
- Private vs PBS: if your script isn't PBS-listed, the pharmacy sets the private price. Different pharmacies charge different private prices.
- Below co-payment medicines: for medicines whose actual price is below the co-payment, different pharmacies may charge slightly different actual prices.
For PBS-listed medicines at the standard co-payment, the price should be the same at every Australian pharmacy. For everything else, shopping around can save real money, especially on private prescriptions.
For more on this, see our guide to generic vs brand medicines.
Frequently asked questions
What is the PBS Safety Net threshold for 2026?
For general patients, $1,860.40 per family per calendar year. For concession card holders, $277.20 per family per calendar year. Once crossed, your medicines drop to $7.70 each for general patients or become free for concession card holders, until 31 December.
Does paracetamol count toward the Safety Net?
Only if it's PBS-listed and dispensed on prescription, which is uncommon for adults. Most paracetamol is over-the-counter and does not count. PBS-listed paracetamol does count, including some prescription-only strengths or preparations for specific conditions.
Is the Safety Net per person or per family?
Per family unit. A "family" for Safety Net purposes is you, your partner, and your dependent children under 16 (or under 25 if a full-time student). All eligible spending across the family combines toward one threshold.
How do I apply for a PBS Safety Net card?
If you've crossed the threshold, the pharmacy that dispensed your threshold-crossing script can issue the card on the spot. Otherwise, apply online through Services Australia, by phone on 132 011, or in person at a service centre.
Why does my prescription cost more at one pharmacy than another?
For PBS-listed medicines at the standard co-payment, the price should be the same. Differences come from brand premiums, private (non-PBS) pricing, or medicines whose actual price is below the co-payment. Ask the pharmacist for a breakdown if you're unsure.
Can I claim a refund if I forgot to show my concession card?
Yes, within 12 months, at the same pharmacy that filled the script. Bring the card and the receipt; the pharmacy can refund the difference between the general and concessional co-payment.
This page is general information about the Australian pharmacy system. It is not medical advice and does not replace a consultation with a registered pharmacist or GP.
If you have a health concern that cannot wait, call your GP, visit an after-hours service, or call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 (24/7).
Find a pharmacy that tracks your Safety Net spending → Browse Australian pharmacies