Legislation to reduce the PBS general copay from $31.60 to $25.00 is imminent and welcomed.

But for high volume medicine users will still be required to spend almost $1700 for medicines each year before the medicine cost relief is available to them.

And why does it matter?

Because families on a combined income of more than $65k per year (before tax) don't qualify for Family Tax Benefit A and so don't qualify for concessional priced medicines.

Individual full time mean wages in Australia are $72,800 before tax (ABS Dec2024).

Meanwhile self-funded retirees can earn $158,440 as a couple and get concessional price of $7.70 medicines and the 36-script safety net ($277.20).

Prevalence of long-term health conditions is 56% in areas of least disadvantage and 63% in areas of most disadvantage with 28% of people under 14yrs living with a long-term health condition. (AIHW) NSW alone estimates 25% of the population will be managing at least two chronic conditions by 2032. (FutureHealth)

With legislation being introduced to change the PBS co-pay now is the time to make our PBS more accessible and equitable for those least able to pay for their medicines.

We ask the Parliament to amend the National Health Act Amendment Bill to the PBS General Safety Net the equivalent of 36 scripts p.a as per the Concessional Safety Net, and institute a fixed term deadline for the automation of all PBS Safety Nets from 1 January 2027 to help everyone get the full support and protection of the PBS Safety Net System. #36scriptsforall.