What is the difference between the original and extended Medicare Safety Nets?

There are a few differences between the original and extended Medicare Safety Nets but the primary difference is that the Original Medicare Safety Net is reached through your gap expenses, while the Extended Medicare Safety Net is reached through your out-of-pocket expenses.

How do I know if I've reached my Medicare Safety Net threshold?

You can check if you have reached the Medicare Safety Net threshold by logging into your Medicare account via the MyGov website, or through the Express Plus Medicare app.

Do pensioners get extra benefits from the Medicare Safety Net?

Yes. The threshold pensioners must reach before they can access the Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) is significantly lower than the general population. In 2025, the threshold for concessional cardholders was $834.50 compared to the standard of $2,615.30.

What expenses count towards the Medicare Safety Net threshold?

For the Original Medicare Safety Net (OMSN), your gap amount counts towards the threshold. For the Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN), your out-of-pocket costs count towards the threshold.

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Joselle Delos Reyes

Subeditor

Joselle Delos Reyes is a subeditor for Finder's global niches. She has previously worked as a copy editor at Wells Fargo, a publishing specialist at Thomson Reuters and a writer at an SEO startup. Joselle has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of the Philippines.