60-day prescriptions: which medicines, who can get them and what you save

Prescriptions & medicines ·Published 10 October 2026 ·Reviewed 10 October 2026

Written by the Priceline Pharmacy Pacific Fair team. Reviewed by Jason Markey, BPharmSci, MPharm, Owner and Pharmacist.

General health information from a registered pharmacist. It doesn’t replace advice from your own pharmacist or doctor.

A 60-day prescription lets you collect two months’ supply of an eligible PBS medicine for one co-payment, instead of one month’s. They’ve been available since September 2023 for people with chronic, stable medical conditions, and your doctor decides whether a 60-day script is right for you. In 2026, with the general PBS co-payment at $25, that can save a general patient up to $150 a year for each eligible medicine.

If you fill regular scripts with us at Pacific Fair, here’s how 60-day prescriptions work, what you’ll pay this year and what to ask your GP.

How do 60-day prescriptions work?

healthdirect explains that PBS prescriptions generally give you enough medicine for a month at a time. With a 60-day prescription, an eligible medicine is supplied as a 60-day quantity instead. That means you:

• pay one PBS co-payment for two months’ supply
• visit the pharmacy for that medicine about half as often
• get another two months’ supply each time a repeat is filled

The Department of Health rolled out 60-day prescriptions in three stages, starting in September 2023. Because only some medicines are eligible, you may end up with a mix of 60-day and monthly scripts.

Who can get a 60-day prescription?

Three things decide it:

• Your doctor. It’s a clinical decision made by your prescriber. healthdirect suggests asking your doctor whether any of your medicines are available as a 60-day prescription.
• Your condition. 60-day prescriptions are for chronic, stable medical conditions. If your treatment is still being adjusted, your doctor may prefer a monthly script for now.
• Your medicine. Only certain PBS medicines are eligible, so not every regular medicine can be prescribed this way.

You don’t need a concession card. General patients can get 60-day prescriptions too. In the Department of Health’s own Budget example, a general patient saves a further $150 a year if her doctor writes her a 60-day script.

Which medicines are eligible?

The eligible medicines are set by the Australian Government. The Department of Health’s Cheaper medicines website has information on checking whether you’re eligible for 60-day prescriptions.

The easiest way to check, though, is to ask. Your GP can tell you whether a medicine is eligible, and our pharmacists are happy to look over your current medicines and tell you which ones might be worth raising at your next appointment. Only your prescriber can write a 60-day prescription.

How much can you save in 2026?

From 1 January 2026, the PBS co-payment for Medicare card holders dropped from $31.60 to $25. If you have a concession card, the co-payment stays at $7.70, and the Department of Health says it will stay at that level until 2030.

Here’s what that means for one eligible medicine taken every day for a year:

If you take two or three eligible medicines, the savings multiply. These figures are maximums: Services Australia describes the co-payment as the most you pay per medicine (“up to $25.00” for general patients), so if a medicine costs less than that, your saving will be smaller. If you choose a brand that carries a brand price premium, healthdirect notes you may need to pay that on top. Our guide to generic vs brand-name medicines explains how to avoid it.

How do repeats, eScripts and the Safety Net work?

Repeats and eScripts

A 60-day prescription works like any other script. If it’s an eScript, healthdirect explains that the pharmacist will send you a new token for your repeat by SMS or email, and you show that token next time. You can also send your eScript to us ahead of time through the Priceline Pharmacy app so it’s ready when you arrive.

With twice as much medicine at home, store it as the label directs and out of reach of children. If your doctor changes or stops a medicine, bring the leftovers back to the pharmacy. Our guide to getting rid of old medicines safely explains how.

The PBS Safety Net

Because you pay fewer co-payments, the Department of Health says you or your family may reach the PBS Safety Net later in the year, or not at all. In 2026 the thresholds are $1,748.20 for general patients and $277.20 for concession card holders, according to Services Australia.

Timing matters too. healthdirect describes a “20-day and 50-day rule”: if you have a prescription dispensed more than 10 days early, the payment may not count towards your Safety Net threshold. It’s best to fill repeats when you’re running low, not well ahead of time. Our PBS Safety Net guide explains the thresholds and how to track your spending.

What should you ask your GP?

Next time you’re due for a script, try these questions:

• Are any of my regular medicines available as a 60-day prescription?
• Is my condition stable enough for a two-month supply?
• If my dose changes, what should I do with the medicine I already have?
• Can you send my scripts as eScripts?
• How often would you like to review me while I’m on 60-day scripts?

How can our pharmacists help?

You don’t need an appointment to fill a script at Pacific Fair, and most are ready in minutes. We dispense paper scripts and eScripts and can keep your repeats on file. Our prescriptions page has the details.

If you take several medicines, a medication review with one of our pharmacists (free for Medicare card holders) is a good chance to check what you take, what it’s for and which scripts you might ask your GP about.

When to see a pharmacist or GP

Talk to your pharmacist or GP if:

• you notice new side effects or symptoms after starting or changing a medicine
• your condition changes or doesn’t feel well controlled
• you’re running low and have no repeats left (don’t go without; ask us about your options the same day)
• you’re unsure how much to take from a larger pack
• you’re finding your medicines hard to afford

If you need a new script or a review, our in-store Help Medical GPs are one option, with walk-ins welcome subject to doctor availability.

This article is general information only and isn’t a substitute for personal advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist or you’re worried, talk to your pharmacist or GP. In an emergency, call 000.