Replace a Medicare card and access your digital card in myGov
Request a replacement Medicare card through Medicare linked to myGov, in the myGov app, or by calling Medicare. Check your postal address before confirming. You can access your new digital card in the myGov app while waiting for the physical card; a saved photo is a personal reference copy.
Start with the reason you need another card. Services Australia's replacement guidance separates replacing a card from ordering an extra family card.
| Your situation | Start here |
|---|---|
| Lost, stolen or damaged card | Request a replacement through Medicare |
| Card approaching expiry | Check your address; the renewal card is normally sent automatically |
| Several people need the same family card | Check the extra-card option |
| You only want the card on your phone | Add the digital card in the myGov app |
For a shared card, one person can request the replacement. A family can receive one extra card with the same details, but a sole cardholder cannot order an extra card through that option.
Request the replacement and check the address
Use the official online walkthrough. Its screenshots show the browser version; the myGov app's layout differs.
- Sign in to myGov or its app and open Medicare.
- Open My card, then Get a replacement or extra card.
- Choose the reason that matches your situation and continue. Answer the extra-copy question if it appears for your shared card.
- Review the postal address. Edit it if necessary before confirming.
- Wait for the success confirmation and open the card page to check the new details. Sign out when finished.
The walkthrough currently says delivery is within four weeks. Treat this as the published timeframe, allowing for your own circumstances. If you cannot complete the request online, the replacement guidance provides the Medicare phone route.
For routine expiry, Services Australia normally sends a new card four to eight weeks before the old one expires. If yours has not arrived, check the address on your Medicare record and follow the replacement guidance.
Open the official digital card while you wait
The digital-card instructions require a myGov account with Medicare linked. In the myGov app, open Wallet from the home screen, choose the plus icon and follow the prompts to add Medicare.
Open the card and check the Medicare number and the people listed. Services Australia says the new digital card can be used straight away after replacement. It also recommends carrying your physical card once you have it.
The wallet here belongs to the myGov app. Saving a scan in Dokus or another file store does not add an official credential to myGov, and it does not create an Apple Wallet Medicare card.
Update your personal copies after replacement
If you keep a reference scan, compare it with the new card before using its details on another form. Label an outdated copy so it cannot be mistaken for the current card. Store any request confirmation separately from the card image.
A photo can help you read a number, but it cannot submit a replacement request, update your Medicare record or establish that an organisation will accept the image as identification. Follow the recipient's instructions whenever a Medicare card is requested as supporting evidence.
Before you finish
- The replacement reason matches the problem.
- The postal address is correct.
- The request shows a successful confirmation.
- The digital card opens in the myGov app.
- Any personal reference scan is clearly marked as current or outdated.
Questions about replacing a Medicare card
Do I need to order a card every time it expires?
Normally, Services Australia sends a renewal automatically. Keep your address current and use the replacement route if the card does not arrive.
Can I use Medicare before the replacement arrives?
Services Australia says you can use the new digital card straight away in the myGov app. Add Medicare to the app's wallet through your linked account.
Is a Medicare card photo the same as the digital card?
No. A photo is a personal copy. The official digital card is accessed through the myGov app, and a recipient's identification requirements still apply to a stored image.