As a cost-of-living measure, the Australian government lowered the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) safety net thresholds from 1 July by the equivalent of 12 fully priced scripts for concession card holders and the equivalent of approximately two fully priced scripts for non-concessional patients.

For concessional patients, the safety net threshold has been lowered from $326.40 to $244.80 – an $81.60 reduction for concessional patients. This means that when a concession card-holder reaches the safety net threshold, after 36 full-priced concessional scripts, they will receive PBS medicines at no charge for the rest of the year.

For general patients, the general safety net threshold will reduce from $1542.10 to $1457.10, a maximum reduction of $85 for non-concessional patients. This means that after the equivalent of about 34 fully priced general co-payments, general patients pay only the concessional co-payment of $6.80 per PBS script (plus any applicable premiums) for the balance of the year.

Further information can be found at the PBS website.

Will these new thresholds make a big difference to you? Have the adjustments gone far enough?