Genetic Carrier Screening Medicare Rebate

Medicare Rebate Eligibility for Genetic Testing

The Australian Government has dedicated $80 million to enhance access to affordable preconception genetic testing for residents. If you are an Australian citizen or resident contemplating starting a family, here are the rebates you may be eligible for.

Commencing November 1st, 2023, Medicare will cover genetic carrier testing for specific conditions. While not all genetic conditions will be eligible for rebates, this is a significant stride towards making these tests more accessible and cost-effective for individuals and couples planning to start a family.

What's Covered:

Medicare will cover two types of tests:

• Core Carrier Test: Screens for cystic fibrosis (CF), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), and fragile X syndrome (FXS). This test is available once in your lifetime and is bulk-billed through Medicare, providing a rebate of up to $400 to cover the cost.
• Couples Carrier Test: Evaluates carrier status for potential partners to determine risks associated with CFTR or SMN1 genes. This test is eligible for a rebate of $400, and the out-of-pocket cost upon checkout will be $899.

What You Learn:

• Core Carrier Test: Assesses the likelihood of having a child with CF, SMA, and FXS.
• Couples Carrier Test: Evaluates carrier status for potential partners regarding CFTR or SMN1 genes.

Payment, Reimbursement, and Application for Rebate:

• For eligible individuals, the Core Carrier bulk-billed test option doesn’t require upfront payment. A rebate of $400 is automatically applied to the Couples Carrier Screening test, reducing your out-of-pocket cost to $899 at checkout. However, if later found ineligible, an invoice for the full test costs will be issued.
• After purchasing the Core or Couples Carrier Test, provide your Medicare card during your Eugene onboarding journey. The steps will be emailed and accessible through your account. No doctor referrals are necessary for rebate access; we handle that process for you.
• Eligible candidates can pay in full and claim the benefit directly from Medicare upon receiving test results if they prefer.

Exclusions:

• All other genetic tests on eugenelabs.com, excluding the Core Carrier Test and Couples Carrier Test, do not qualify for Medicare rebates.
• No discounts apply to bulk-billed tests, and Eugene gift vouchers cannot be used for these specific tests.

Please review the Medicare Rebate eligibility criteria before ordering a test covered by Medicare.

Carrier screening is not currently covered by private health insurance.