Is STI testing free in Australia? Medicare, bulk billing, and what you actually pay

If you have a Medicare card, STI testing at Clinic365 is free. The phone consult with a Specialist GP is bulk-billed, and the pathology tests are bulk-billed too, so most people pay nothing at all. But "free" can mean a few different things, so this guide explains exactly what Medicare covers, what happens if you don't have a card, and where to find a free public clinic if that suits you better.

The short answer: is STI testing free in Australia?

For most people, yes. If you're eligible for Medicare, both parts of an STI check — the doctor's consultation and the laboratory tests — are bulk-billed at Clinic365, which means there is no cost to you. You book online, a Specialist GP calls you, and you're sent a pathology referral to take to any collection centre. For Medicare card holders, neither the consult nor the standard STI screen attracts an out-of-pocket fee.

What you actually pay depends on your situation — whether you have Medicare, private health cover, or overseas student or visitor insurance. The rest of this page walks through each one honestly, including when a free public clinic might be the better choice.

What "bulk-billed" actually means

Bulk billing is when your doctor or pathology lab bills Medicare directly and accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment. You aren't charged a gap, and you don't have to claim anything back — it's settled between the provider and Medicare. For you, bulk-billed simply means $0.

Not every service bulk bills, and some bulk bill the tests but charge for the consult (or the reverse). The honest question to ask is: "Is the consultation bulk-billed, and are the pathology tests bulk-billed?" At Clinic365, for Medicare card holders, the answer to both is yes.

What Medicare covers at Clinic365

A routine screen with us has three parts, and for Medicare card holders all of them are covered:

• The consult. A private phone consultation with a Specialist GP, who works out what to test for based on your situation. Bulk-billed.
• The tests. A standard screen covers the core infections — chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV, with hepatitis B where it's relevant.¹ These are bulk-billed through the pathology lab.
• Your results and treatment. Results come back by SMS, and if anything needs treating, your GP sorts it — often with an eScript straight to your phone.

So a routine screen, from the consult to the lab tests to your results, is genuinely free for Medicare card holders. The same applies to our at-home STI test kit, which is bulk-billed for eligible patients too.

What if you don't have Medicare?

You can still test with Clinic365 without a Medicare card — here's what to expect.

The consult

Without Medicare, the phone consult is $99. If you hold private hospital or extras cover, or overseas health insurance, most private insurers — including Bupa and Allianz — typically refund around $45 of a standard consultation. Check your own policy for the exact amount.

The tests

Pathology for an STI screen without Medicare is usually around $150, but it varies by lab and by which tests you need, so always confirm the price with the collection centre before you attend.

If you're an overseas student or visitor (OSHC/OVHC)

There's good news on the tests. If you're covered by Bupa or Allianz overseas student or visitor health cover, these funds direct-bill the pathology with Australian Clinical Labs — so you won't pay out of pocket for the tests themselves. It's still worth checking whether your policy also covers the consultation.

Free public sexual health clinics

If you searched for a "free STI test", you might be picturing a public sexual health clinic. Every state and territory has one, they're free to attend with or without Medicare, and they're a good option — particularly if you have symptoms, need to be seen in person, or don't have a Medicare card.³ The main city clinic in each state is:

• NSW — Sydney Sexual Health Centre (Sydney Hospital, Macquarie Street)
• VIC — Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (Carlton)
• QLD — Brisbane Sexual Health and HIV Service (Roma Street)
• WA — Royal Perth Hospital Sexual Health Clinic (Murray Street)
• SA — Adelaide Sexual Health Centre (Currie Street)
• TAS — Hobart Sexual Health Service (Collins Street)
• ACT — Canberra Sexual Health Centre (Canberra Hospital, Garran)
• NT — Clinic 34 (Mitchell Street, Darwin)

The usual trade-offs with a public clinic are location and waiting times. A service like Clinic365 suits people who want to test without taking time off, from anywhere in Australia, with results by SMS — and for Medicare card holders, it's free either way. You'll find our costs laid out on the fees page.

So what will you actually pay?

• With a Medicare card, at Clinic365: $0. The consult and the standard tests are bulk-billed.
• With Bupa or Allianz OSHC/OVHC: $0 for the tests (direct-billed with Australian Clinical Labs); check whether your policy also covers the consult.
• Without Medicare: about $99 for the consult (most private and overseas insurers refund around $45 — check your policy) plus roughly $150 for tests, which you should confirm with your lab.
• At a public sexual health clinic: free and in person, though you may travel or wait.

Whichever path fits you, the important thing is getting checked. Most STIs have no symptoms, so testing — not waiting for something to feel wrong — is how you actually know.²