When it comes to unpaid Medicare benefits, every state can be a winner.
Right now, there’s about $273 million on the bench in unpaid Medicare benefits.
This belongs to the nearly 1 million Australians who could get a run on if they simply update their bank account details. I still remember when claiming a Medicare benefit meant walking into the office, handing over a paper receipt, and walking out with cash, often spent before the day was out. And if you lost the receipt, which I often did, you lost the claim entirely.
We’ve come a long way since then. Digital claiming means no more shoeboxes full of receipts, no more trips to the shopping centre, or waiting in line to get your money.
But there’s one catch: your bank details with Medicare must be correct. If they’re not, we can’t pay you.
A different type of leaderboard
The New South Wales blues are leaving the most on the field, with the highest individual unpaid benefit at $40,000.
And the Queensland maroons aren’t far behind at $35,000.
This money is waiting to be scooped up and put into play!
| Claimant State | Total customers | Total amount owed | Most owed |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT | 15,168 | $4,636,840 | $12,000 |
| NSW | 287,383 | $86,274,743 | $40,000 |
| NT | 8,162 | $1,920,875 | $7,000 |
| QLD | 205,990 | $54,768,090 | $35,000 |
| SA | 74,861 | $19,936,109 | $19,000 |
| TAS | 20,365 | $5,454,710 | $30,000 |
| VIC | 235,452 | $67,339,069 | $35,000 |
| WA | 119,990 | $32,262,945 | $37,000 |
Source: Services Australia 30 April 2026
And these figures aren’t outliers. As at 30 April 2026, 314 Australians were owed more than $10,000 in unpaid Medicare benefits and over 50,000 Australians were owed more than $1,000.
The average amount owed is $280, but that’s still enough to cover a week’s groceries, a tank of fuel or a bill that’s been hanging on the fridge a little too long.
A $10,000 reminder
We recently called an elderly New South Wales resident about their unpaid Medicare benefits. When we spoke to them, we learned that they had applied for assistance to help with some unexpected expenses.
We told them that Medicare owed them more than $10,000 in unpaid benefits.
All they had to do was update their bank details. Needless to say, this person felt like they had just scored the winning try.
One small action unlocked life‑changing money.
Your halftime plan
If you haven’t received a Medicare benefit you were expecting, it might be because your bank details are missing or out of date. No need for a video ref, this one’s an easy fix.
It takes less time than an Origin halftime break to tackle the issue and update your details.
- Access your Medicare online account by signing in to the myGov mobile app or myGov website.
- If you don’t have a Medicare online account, you can create one by linking Medicare to myGov.
- Check that your bank details, including BSB, account number, and name, are correct.
- Once details are updated, unpaid Medicare benefits are paid automatically, usually within three business days.
There’s no waiting in a queue like the old days; as the mighty legends of the boot might say, the game has changed!
For more info, visit servicesaustralia.gov.au/getmedicarebenefits.
Originally published by Yahoo Finance on 24 May 2026.