The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) provides a rebate for Australian families and singles who incur out-of-pocket costs for out of hospital services (including GP and specialist attendances). The Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) provides an additional rebate for individuals over an annual threshold.

Together, the MBS and the EMSN, enable patients undertaking fertility treatment to claim a significant proportion of their upfront payment back, as soon as treatment is complete (after embryo transfer or artificial insemination).

The EMSN provides a capped rebate for IVF treatment once an annual threshold has been reached.

Your Safety Net entitlement commences at the start of each calendar year and once you have reached a threshold, Medicare will rebate a proportion of your upfront payment for most medical services that are provided outside a hospital (i.e. where you were not admitted to a hospital).

The Medicare Safety Net entitlement does not include hospital/day surgery related services such as egg collection, nor does it reimburse for items without a Medicare item number, such as testicular biopsy.

Your Safety Net threshold is subject to change in value every January and is currently $1,126 (from 1st January 2010).

For more information and to register your details with Medicare in order to receive your benefits, visit www.medicareaustralia.gov.au