Medicare: Thousands of Australians owed $200m in payments – here’s how to get yours

Tens of thousands of Australians could be losing their share of $200 million in unclaimed Medicare payments.

Australians have been urged to check if their bank details are correct on their Medicare account to find out if they are due one or more refunds.

Government Services Minister Bill Shorten said it was common for people to forget to update their details with Medicare after moving house or changing banks.

In Tasmania alone, up to 20,000 people are currently losing their share of $4 million in unpaid Medicare benefits.

“Services Australia withholds Medicare payments when a customer’s bank details are invalid,” Shorten explained.

“Services Australia will try to contact people with Medicare payments withheld to let them know, however the contact details are often out of date as well.”

Australians can check if their bank details are correct using the new MyGov app that can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.

The new app was launched last December and was designed to make connecting with multiple government services more efficient for users.

People who don’t have a Medicare online account can create one in minutes and easily link it to their MyGov app.

Australians are urged to check if their bank details are correct on their Medicare account to find out if they are due one or more refunds (pictured, a Medicare card)

After updating personal details, Services Australia will pay any unclaimed benefits within days.

Tasmanian Senator Anne Urquhart urged Apple Isle residents to check if they were one of the 20,000 people who are owed a share of the $4 million.

“I urge Tasmanians to check that their details are up to date. It is important that people do not miss out on any Medicare reimbursement due to them,” she said.

‘Simply sign into your Medicare account online, verify and update your bank details.’

For more information on how to update your bank information with Medicare, click here.