How to Get Your Own Medicare Card and Number From Age 15 in Australia
If you are 15 or older and already enrolled in Medicare, you can get your own Medicare card and number. Eligible people can apply online through Medicare linked to myGov, while form MS011 is available when the online service cannot be used.
AU Australia
Documents & Identity ~ 7 min read
8 FAQ
Updated 2026-10-02
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If you are 15 or older and already enrolled in Medicare, you can get your own Medicare card and number. If you meet Services Australia's online eligibility rules, sign in to Medicare through myGov, select My card, then Get a new card and number. During the online request you can choose to leave your current card or stay on it and be on 2 cards. After submission, your new Medicare card and number are shown and you can access the digital card straight away. The physical card is sent to your postal address in about 3 to 4 weeks. If you cannot use the online service, use form MS011.
What you need
- You must already be enrolled in Medicare to use the own-card process.
- For the online route, your Medicare online account must be linked to myGov and you must meet all Services Australia online eligibility requirements.
- If using MS011, Person 1 must provide an accepted identification document and complete the required declaration.
- Any additional person aged 15 or older included on MS011 must complete their applicable details and declaration.
- If copying or transferring to another person's existing Medicare card, that cardholder must complete the applicable section and declaration.
Eligibility
You can get your own Medicare card and number if you are 15 or older and enrolled in Medicare. The online service has additional conditions: you must be living in Australia, be an Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen or permanent resident visa holder, be on only one Medicare card, have other people on your current card, have nobody acting on your behalf for Medicare purposes, and not be in the care of a state or territory child protection authority. If you cannot use the online service, Services Australia provides form MS011.
How to do it
- Check that you are already enrolled in Medicare and are at least 15.
- If eligible for the online route, sign in to myGov or the myGov app and open Medicare.
- Select My card, then Get a new card and number.
- Choose whether to leave your current card or stay on it and be on 2 cards.
- Confirm your postal address and Medicare bank details.
- Review the declaration and submit the request.
- Record the new Medicare card number displayed after successful submission and use your digital Medicare card while waiting for the physical card.
- If you cannot use the online route, complete MS011, attach the required identification and supporting documents, complete all applicable declarations, and send it using the email or postal details on the form.
Can you get your own Medicare card when you turn 15?
Yes. Services Australia states that you can get your own Medicare card and number from age 15 if you are already enrolled in Medicare.
If you are not yet enrolled, getting your own card is not the first step. See how to enrol in Medicare for the first time.
Who can get their own Medicare card online?
You can use the online service if your Medicare online account is linked to myGov and you meet all of Services Australia's requirements. You must:
- be living in Australia and be an Australian citizen, New Zealand citizen or permanent resident visa holder
- be 15 or older
- currently be on only one Medicare card
- have other people on your current Medicare card
- not have someone else acting on your behalf for Medicare purposes
- not be in the care of a state or territory child protection authority.
If you do not meet the online requirements, Services Australia directs you to the Application to copy or transfer from one Medicare card to another form (MS011).
How do you get your own Medicare card and number online?
If your Medicare online account is linked to myGov and you meet the eligibility rules, you can complete the request online:
- Sign in to myGov or use the myGov app and open Medicare.
- Select My card.
- Select Get a new card and number.
- Choose that the new card is for yourself.
- Choose whether you want to leave your current Medicare card or stay on it and be on 2 cards.
- Confirm or update your postal address.
- Confirm or update your Medicare bank details.
- Review the information and declaration, then submit the request.
After successful submission, Services Australia shows your new Medicare card and number. Keep a record of the number for future use.
Can you stay on your parent's Medicare card and have your own card?
Yes. The current online service lets an eligible applicant choose either Leave the card or Stay on the card, and be on 2 cards. This means getting your own Medicare card does not necessarily require you to leave the family card.
Services Australia limits a person to 2 Medicare cards at the same time. If you are already on more than one card, you need to leave the additional card before using the online own-card process.
Form MS011 also distinguishes between a transfer and a copy. A transfer removes you from the old card, while a copy keeps you active on both cards.
What is form MS011 and when do you need it?
If you cannot get your own card online, use form MS011, Application to copy or transfer from one Medicare card to another. The form can be used to transfer to a new card, copy to a new card, transfer to an existing card or copy to an existing card.
For a person aged 15 or older seeking their own card, the form specifically covers both leaving the old card and remaining active on the old card while also receiving a new one.
Person 1 must provide one of the identification documents accepted on the current MS011 form:
- valid Australian passport
- Australian birth certificate, front and back
- Australian citizenship certificate, front and back
- current Australian driver licence, front and back
- valid ImmiCard
- foreign passport with a valid Australian visa
- Certificate of Identity issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The completed form must include the required declarations. People listed on the application who are 15 or older complete their applicable declarations. If the request is to move or copy someone onto another person's existing Medicare card, the person on that existing card must also complete the relevant section and declaration.
Services Australia states that supporting documents sent with MS011 do not need to be certified.
Where do you send form MS011?
You can return MS011 and supporting documents by email or post using the details on the current form. For email submissions, Services Australia asks you to include copy or transfer in the email subject line.
The current form accepts emailed documents in PDF, JPG, PNG, GIF or BMP format. Documents must not be password protected or contained in a WinZip or RAR file. Each document must be no larger than 5 MB and the combined documents no larger than 10 MB.
The form also warns that sending personal information through email or unsecured networks may involve security risks.
How long does it take to get your new Medicare card and number?
For a successful online request, Services Australia displays your new Medicare card and number after submission. You can access your digital Medicare card straight away through myGov or the myGov app.
The physical Medicare card is sent to the postal address you confirm during the request and should arrive in about 3 to 4 weeks.
Services Australia does not publish a specific processing-time estimate for an MS011 application on the verified MS011 service page or current form, so do not assume that a form application will follow the same timeline as an online request.
Why should you check your bank details?
During the online process, Services Australia shows the Medicare bank details it already holds and lets you update them before submission. Medicare benefits are paid by electronic funds transfer, so your bank details need to be current.
The MS011 form also requests bank account details. It states that if Services Australia does not have bank details, it will hold your Medicare benefit until you provide them.
Does getting your own card change your Medicare Safety Net family?
No. Getting your own Medicare card does not automatically change your Medicare Safety Net family registration. If your family circumstances have changed, you may need to update that registration separately.
See how to register or manage a family or couple for the Medicare Safety Net.
What happens after you get your own Medicare card?
If you chose to leave your previous Medicare card and you were its contact person, Services Australia assigns a new contact person to that card. If you chose to stay on the old card, you can remain active on both cards, subject to the 2-card limit.
If you later lose or damage your card, or it expires, use the separate process to replace a Medicare card rather than applying for another own-card transfer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get my own Medicare card at 15?
Yes. Services Australia states that you can get your own Medicare card and number if you are 15 or older and already enrolled in Medicare.
How do I get my own Medicare card online?
If eligible, sign in to Medicare through myGov or the myGov app, select My card, then Get a new card and number. Follow the prompts, confirm your address and bank details, review the declaration and submit.
Can I stay on my parent's Medicare card and also have my own card?
Yes. The online process can let you choose Stay on the card, and be on 2 cards. MS011 also provides a copy option that keeps you active on both cards. You can be on no more than 2 Medicare cards at the same time.
Will I get my own Medicare card number?
Yes. After a successful online request, Services Australia shows your new Medicare card and number. Keep a copy of the number for future reference.
How quickly can I use my new Medicare card?
After a successful online request, your digital Medicare card is available straight away in myGov or the myGov app. Services Australia says the physical card will arrive in about 3 to 4 weeks.
What is Medicare form MS011?
MS011 is the Application to copy or transfer from one Medicare card to another. It can be used when you cannot complete the own-card request online and supports both copy and transfer arrangements.
What identification can I use with MS011?
The current form accepts specified documents including a valid Australian passport, Australian birth or citizenship certificate, current Australian driver licence, valid ImmiCard, foreign passport with a valid Australian visa, or a DFAT Certificate of Identity. Person 1 must provide identification.
Is there a fee to get my own Medicare card?
Services Australia does not list an application fee on its own-card service page, online guide or current MS011 form.
Official sources
Services Australia - Get your own Medicare card and numberServices Australia - Medicare online account help: Get your own Medicare card and numberServices Australia - Application to copy or transfer from one Medicare card to another form (MS011)Services Australia - Current MS011 formRelated procedures
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