Over one million Aussie retirees yet to claim Commonwealth Seniors Health Card

More than a million Australian retirees have been warned they could be missing out on a substantial financial benefit.

More than a million Australian retirees have been warned they could be missing out on a substantial financial benefit, with the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card offering savings that can make a serious difference to their budgets.

The card, which provides cheaper healthcare and discounts, is yet to be claimed by a massive portion of eligible Aussies.

The concession card offers a 75 per cent discount on prescription medicines and a lower Medicare safety net threshold, averaging about $3,000 a year in benefits for a single person, according to Retirement Essentials.

Over a 20-year retirement, that adds up to a potential $60,000 in savings.

Appearing on Sunrise, Services Australia General Manager Hank Jongen reminded Australia’s retirees of the card’s value.

“The savings can be significant,” Jongen said. “I need to make the point that $60,000 savings offer specific scenarios but having said that it does help with the cost of healthcare, and it provides other discounts.

“For example, in relation to pharmaceutical prescriptions alone the cost control is from about $32 down to $7.70. Those savings certainly add up.”

More than a million Australian retirees could be missing out on a substantial financial benefit, with the Commonwealth Seniors Health Card offering savings worth up to $60,000.

And the savings aren’t just limited to healthcare. The card can also lead to reductions in property rates, water rates, gas and electricity costs, and public transport fares, with some businesses also offering concessions.

To qualify, retirees need to be aged 67 or above, not receiving another payment from Services Australia, and meet the income test.

“For a single person your income needs to be less than $99,000. For a couple that figure is $158,000,” Jongen explained. “It is quite significant.”

$8b investment in Medicare

The reminder came on the back of news that GP visits will be offered to the vast majority of Australians in a dramatic $8 billion investment in Medicare.

Declaring the 2025 election a referendum on Medicare, Anthony Albanese pledged to deliver an additional 18 million free bulk billing GP visits.

The government will set an ambitious target of 9 out 10 GP visits being bulk billed – that means free for the patient – by 2030.

The Prime Minister opened fire on Liberal leader Peter Dutton’s record as health minister a decade ago predicting that Australian patients and families will save hundreds of dollars a year in out-of-pocket costs, with patient savings of $859 million a year by 2030.

Declaring the 2025 election a referendum on Medicare, Anthony Albanese pledged to deliver an additional 18 million free bulk billing GP visits. Picture: ABC

Mr Albanese pledged that “we will continue to ensure that patients and families don’t need to worry about reaching for their credit card when they’re getting the help they need”, describing the plan as a “historic investment in Medicare”.

GP surgeries that bulk bill all their patients will receive an additional 12.5 per cent loading payment on their Medicare rebates.

“Labor built Medicare, we will protect it and improve it for all Australians,’’ Mr Albanese said.

“No Australian should have to check their bank balance to see if they can afford to see a doctor. That is not who we are. That is not the future we want for Australia.

“This is a policy that lifts up our entire nation and ensures no one is held back, and no one is left behind.”