Medicare Eye Test And Bulk Billing Explained

Up to 90% of all vision loss is preventable, so here at the Optical Co, we strongly believe in taking a preventative and proactive approach to your eye health. One of the many ways we do this is by offering bulk billing so that all eligible Australians with a valid Medicare card can book a standard eye test with us once every 3 years under the age of 65 and once a year if you’re 65 or older.

Your eyesight is one of your most precious assets, and our highly qualified optometrists are committed to helping you protect your vision and overall eye health for years to come.

Many eye diseases and conditions have few or no early symptoms and can develop at any age. This is why we recommend ensuring you and your loved ones book a Medicare eye test regularly, with our wide range of assessments and digital tools to help track subtle changes in your eyes over time and pick up on any concerns as soon as they arise so you can start your treatment and management plan as soon as possible.

Our friendly team of eye care professionals is highly experienced in detecting and diagnosing a range of eye health and vision concerns, whether you suffer from dry eyes, colour impairment, eye strain, or a medical condition such as diabetes or high blood pressure, glaucoma, or something else. We can work with you to design a treatment plan that fits your preferences, lifestyle and budget needs and optimises your quality of life.

Do I Need A Medicare Bulk Billed Eye Test?

Attending an eye test, even if you don’t have symptoms, means that any changes to your eyes, your vision, and early signs of disease or degeneration can be detected, even before you notice symptoms, and the right steps can be taken to best support your eyes in maintaining a healthy vision for life.

Eye examinations with a registered eye care professional are recommended every two years here in Australia ^[1] and every year if you’re over 65. If you’re experiencing any disturbances or changes in your vision, this test should be conducted urgently.

Many different factors and health conditions can affect your eye health over time, including diabetes, UV exposure, viruses, ageing, and more. Many eye conditions can be detected by an eye test with no noticeable symptoms until they are far-progressed, including glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration.

How Bulk Billing Works: Will I Need To Pay For My Medicare Eye Test?

The good news is that at The Optical Co, we bulk bill, which means that for all Australian permanent residents with a valid Medicare card and that meet the Medicare eligibility criteria, we bill the Australian government directly on your behalf for your Medicare eye test, so you won’t have to pay anything at all. We do not charge a gap fee for standard eye tests.

If you are under 65 years, under Medicare, you are eligible to have a bulk billed eye test every 3 years, which increases to one test every year if you are 65 years or older.

While Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of glasses or contact lenses, you may be able to claim for glasses or contact lenses through your private health insurance, depending on your provider and your level of coverage. If additional costs may be incurred due to your individual eye conditions requiring additional testing, we will advise you of this at your appointment.

What To Expect At Your Medicare Eye Test

In a Medicare eye test, your eye care professional uses a gentle approach combined with innovative medical technology, including Digital Retinal Photography and Optical Coherence Tomography scans, to go beyond simply assessing eyesight and help identify diseases and conditions early as possible. Depending on your eye health needs, your test may include:

• Going through your personal and family health history, detailing when your symptoms began, medications you’re taking, work and environmental factors, and more
• Visual acuity measurements using reading charts to assess precisely how each eye can see
• Tests of your eye health which may include depth perception, colour vision, peripheral (side) vision and how your pupils respond to light
• Assessments to measure which power of lens you require to correct near-sightedness, far-sightedness or astigmatism
• Eye focusing, eye teaming and eye movement activities to examine how well your eyes focus, move and work together
• Eye health examination using a range of technologies to detect underlying conditions

After your exam is completed, your optometrist will be able to discuss your diagnosis and treatment plan options with you to protect your eye health, which may involve prescribing and fitting you with glasses and lenses to best correct your eyesight, supporting you with other management strategies, or discussing treatment options for more complex concerns.

We understand how unnerving it can feel to experience a disturbance or problem with your eyes and vision, so we ensure to take the time and care to explain our findings carefully, answer all of your questions, and leave you feeling confident about the best approach to treatment and the outcomes you can expect.

We are here to keep track of your eye health across all stages of your life. If you have concerns about your eye health, are noticing changes, or would like to book your bulk-billed yearly or three-yearly comprehensive eye test, contact one of our friendly clinics here. 

^[1] https://www.visionaustralia.org/information/eye-health/eye-care