Q: Do I need Medicare to get an online medical certificate?

No, you don't need a Medicare card to get an online medical certificate. Anyone can use these services.

Q: Can I fix a mistake in my name on an online medical certificate?

It's crucial to provide accurate information when requesting an online medical certificate. If you notice a mistake in your name on your request confirmation email, contact the provider immediately to update your details before the certificate is issued. Contact details can be found on your request confirmation email. Once the online medical certificate has been created, the information on it can’t be changed.

Question 1

Are online medical certificates legal and valid in Australia?

Accepted Answer

Medical certificates are legal documents and are valid when issued by an Australian-registered doctor or nurse. More and more people in Australia are using online medical certificates because they are easy and affordable.

According to the Fair Work Ombudsman, an employer can ask an employee to give evidence that shows the employee took leave because they:

weren’t able to work due to an illness or injury, or
needed to provide care or support to an immediate family or household member (because of an illness, injury, or unexpected emergency affecting the member).

While there are no strict rules on what type of evidence needs to be given, the evidence has to convince a reasonable person that the employee was genuinely entitled to the sick or carer’s leave.¹

¹ https://www.fairwork.gov.au/leave/sick-and-carers-leave/paid-sick-and-carers-leave/notice-and-medical-certificates

Question 2

Can I get a medical certificate for a day I was sick in the past?

Accepted Answer

In Australia, doctors usually won’t give you a medical certificate for a day that's already passed.

Doctors have an ethical, professional, and legal obligation to be honest and impartial in their assessment of a patient’s eligibility to receive a medical certificate. Advice from the Australian Medical Association says doctors should be clear that their assessment of the patient is based on the patient’s history and their examination findings. The certificate may include information provided by the patient but the doctor’s assessment should be based on a medical condition observed by the doctor or reported by the patient and accepted by the doctor. ²Medical certificates are meant to cover how you're feeling on the day you talk to the doctor, so, most won’t provide you with a medical certificate for a period prior to having seen you.

² https://ama.com.au/sites/default/files/documents/AMA_Guidelines_on_Medical_Certificates_2011._Revised_2016_0.pdf

Question 3

Do I need Medicare to get an online medical certificate?

Accepted Answer

No, you don&#x27;t need a Medicare card to get an online medical certificate. Anyone can use these services.

Question 4

What's a multi-day online medical certificate?

Accepted Answer

A multi-day medical certificate covers you for more than one day in a row. It's for when you're too sick to go to work or school for a few days. To get one, you'll need to have a video or phone call with one of our telehealth providers to chat about how you're feeling.

Question 5

What's the time period covered by an online medical or carer's certificate?

Accepted Answer

If you choose the same-day option, you will only get a medical certificate for the day you make your request. When choosing a multi-day option via a doctor&#x27;s consultation, the length of time your online medical or carer&#x27;s certificate covers depends on your circumstances. The doctor will assess your condition or caregiving needs and provide a certificate for the appropriate number of days. This could be for one day or several days, based on your needs. When you talk to the doctor, make sure to clearly explain your circumstances so they can give you a certificate that fits your needs.

Question 6

Can I fix a mistake in my name on an online medical certificate?

Accepted Answer

It&#x27;s crucial to provide accurate information when requesting an online medical certificate. If you notice a mistake in your name on your request confirmation email, contact the provider immediately to update your details before the certificate is issued. Contact details can be found on your request confirmation email. Once the online medical certificate has been created, the information on it can’t be changed.

Question 7

Is there a limit on getting consecutive online medical certificates?

Accepted Answer

With medical certificate requests via online form, you can get up to three single-day online medical certificates in a row. If you need a fourth certificate, you&#x27;ll need to book a consultation with a doctor to discuss your situation.

Question 8

Will my online medical certificate specify my illness?

Accepted Answer

To protect your privacy, your online medical certificate won't include specific details about your medical condition.

Question 9

What can I book a telehealth appointment for?

Accepted Answer

Telehealth allows a GP to provide care to you without an in-person consultation. Services GPs can provide through telehealth include, but are not limited to:

Medical advice relating to common ailments (including but not limited to allergies, asthma, bladder infections, bronchitis, cellulitis, cold & flu, diarrhea, infections, respiratory infections, sinusitis, sore throat, UTIs and vomiting)
Medical advice relating to general health concerns
Prescriptions (new or repeat)
Medical certificates
Pathology, radiology or specialist referrals
Routine chronic disease check ups

Question 10

What do I need to enable a video consult?

Accepted Answer

For a video consult any smartphone or computer with a camera, speaker, and microphone will work. Your telehealth video consult will open in a web browser so there’s no need to download any additional software.

Question 11

What if I miss the doctor’s video call?

Accepted Answer

For an on-demand appointment, you should join the video link as soon as you receive it. If you haven't joined by the time the doctor is ready, they will try to call you. Don't worry if you miss the call. The support team will contact you to fix any issues and reconnect you with the doctor. If you have any questions about your appointment, you can always reach out to the support team for help.

Question 12

What services do online doctors offer?

Accepted Answer

Online doctors offer a range of services to help with your health needs:

Medical advice for various health concerns
Digital prescriptions sent via SMS
Online medical certificates for work or school (up to 7 days)
Referrals to specialists like paediatricians or cardiologists
Referrals for tests such as blood work or X-rays

All of these services are available from the comfort of your home!

Question 13

What happens after my online doctor appointment?

Accepted Answer

If needed, the doctor may send you a digital prescription, provide an online medical certificate, or refer you to a specialist. They might also recommend tests if further investigation is necessary.

Question 14

Can I make a Medicare claim after this appointment?

Accepted Answer

There may be specific instances in which you can claim a Medicare or other rebate for telehealth services, but these are defined by Government, and change from time to time. Your eligibility for this will be determined at the time of your appointment and is at the doctors discretion. For telehealth only providers, Medicare rebates are generally not available. For local GPs offering telehealth services, Medicare rebates are generally limited to where you have an existing relationship as defined by:

where you are registered in MyMedicare and the service is provided by your registered practice
when you have previously had a face-to-face appointment with the GP performing the service or another GP at the same practice in the last 12 months
where a practice is a participant in the Approved Medical Deputising Service program, and the Approved Medical Deputising Service provider employing the medical practitioner has a formal agreement with a general practice that has provided at least one face-to-face service to the patient in the 12 months preceding the telehealth attendance.

Under legislation, the existing relationship requirement does not apply in some limited situations which can be found on the Medicare Benefits Schedule website.

Question 15

What's the cancellation policy for telehealth appointments?

Accepted Answer

Telehealth consultations require a lot of coordination, so please try to keep your appointment.

If you need to cancel, please let the provider know immediately because rescheduling telehealth consultations can be more complicated than rescheduling a face-to-face appointment.

Please note that, if cancelling your scheduled appointment with 24-7Medcare within 60 minutes of the scheduled time, you may still be charged the full fee.

Online medical certificates

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Single or Multi-day Medical Certificates & General Advice via Online Consultation

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Frequently Asked Questions About Online Medical Certificates