Do you spend a substantial amount of money on medicines? If so, read on to find out how you might save money on prescription medicines.

PBS Safety Net

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Safety Net is a scheme that entitles people to free or cheaper medicines if they spend more than a certain amount on PBS (prescription) medicines in a calendar year.

Spending record

Before you can become eligible for free or cheaper medicines under the PBS Safety Net scheme, you must have a record of how much you have spent on PBS medicines that year.

If you always use the same pharmacy, ask your pharmacy to record your spending on their computer.

If you use different pharmacies, record your spending on a 'Prescription Record Form', which can be obtained from any pharmacy. The Safety Net applies to a calendar year, so ask for a form the first time you buy a PBS medicine in the new year. Thereafter, each time you lodge a prescription, hand your Prescription Record Form to the pharmacist. The pharmacist will then record the medicine and its cost on the form.

If you have a family, ask your pharmacy to combine the amounts spent on each person's medicines into one Safety Net total or use one Prescription Record Form for the entire family. An eligible family can comprise you, your spouse (including de facto spouse), dependent children under 16 years and dependent students under 25 years.

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Safety Net Card

When your record shows that you have spent the required amount on PBS medicines, your pharmacist will give you a 'Safety Net Card' that you can use to obtain free or cheaper medicines for the rest of the calendar year.

If you asked your pharmacist to record your spending, they will issue you with a Safety Net Card when you become eligible. If you use a Prescription Record Form, you will need to keep track of your tally, so you can tell the pharmacist when you have spent the required amount.

Concession card holders

If you hold a government concession card, you will be eligible for a Safety Net Card once you have spent $274.40 (in 2007). (This amount is the equivalent of 56 PBS prescriptions at the concession rate.) You can then use the card to obtain free PBS medicines for the rest of the year.

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Others

If you do not have a government concession card, you will be eligible for a Safety Net Card when you have spent $1059.00 (in 2007) on PBS medicines. You can then use the card to obtain PBS medicines at the concession rate of $4.90 (in 2007) for the rest of the year.

20-day rule

If you buy certain medicines within 20 days of having bought them previously, a special rule called the 'Safety Net 20-day rule' may apply. In such cases, the cost of the medicine will not count towards your Safety Net tally, or you will have to pay the usual amount for it if you are already using a Safety Net Card.

The rule applies only to selected PBS medicines used long-term for chronic conditions where a pre-scription is intended to last one month. The rule does not apply to medicines intended for short-term use (eg antibiotics).

The rule is designed to prevent people on a Safety Net Card using their card to hoard additional supplies of their medicines at the end of a calendar year.

Further information

For further information about the PBS Safety Net

• talk to your pharmacist
• pick up a 'How to Save Money on Medicine' brochure from your pharmacy or Medicare office
• call the PBS Information Line on 1800 020 290.

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