Telehealth Appointment in Australia: How to Book One, What It Costs, and What to Expect
A telehealth appointment is a real GP consult, just delivered over video or phone instead of across a desk. The doctor on the other end of the call is AHPRA-registered, working from a clinic in Australia, and treating you the same way they would in person. Same notes. Same prescribing rules. Same Medicare item numbers, when you're eligible.
The reason most Australians end up searching for one is straightforward. The local GP is booked out. The clinic closes at five. There's a sick child at home, or a script that's run out, or a sore throat that needs eyes on it before Monday. Telehealth fills that gap, and since the Medicare expansion in 2022 it has become a permanent part of how primary care works in Australia (Department of Health, 2026).
This guide walks through how to book a telehealth appointment in Australia, what to expect during the consult, what it costs, and when telehealth is genuinely the right call (and when it isn't). If you'd rather skip ahead and book one now, you can schedule an appointment directly. If this is a medical emergency, please call 000.
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The mechanics are simpler than people expect. Most online-first clinics in Australia, including Abby Health, follow a similar flow.
1. Choose the type of consult. Most clinics offer either scheduled appointments (you pick a time) or a first-available queue (you join a virtual waiting room). Scheduled is better for follow-ups, complex issues, or when you want a specific clinician. The queue is better for simple, time-sensitive needs like a medical certificate or a quick prescription review.
2. Set up your patient profile. You'll be asked for your name, date of birth, Medicare number, and a current address. Medicare details are essential if you want a bulk-billed consult, because the doctor needs to verify your eligibility before they bill the rebate. Have your card handy.
3. Tell the clinic why you're booking. A short pre-consult intake (symptoms, duration, current medications, allergies) helps the GP arrive prepared. Good systems use this to surface your history so you don't have to repeat your story. At Abby, this is what Abby AI, our medical AI, is designed to do, quietly, in the background.
4. Join the call. Most consults run on video through a browser or app. Phone-only consults are still allowed in specific circumstances under Medicare rules, but video is the default and gives the GP more to work with.
5. Receive your outcome. Scripts go to your nominated pharmacy as an eScript. Pathology and imaging requests are emailed or stored in the patient portal. Medical certificates and referrals follow the same path.
A first appointment usually takes 15 to 20 minutes. Follow-ups tend to be shorter. Same-day appointments are widely available, but availability depends on the clinic and the time of day.
Cost is the question patients ask first, and the answer depends on Medicare eligibility.
With Medicare and bulk billing. A standard telehealth GP consult is covered by Medicare under specific item numbers (MBS item 91891 for video, 91891 for phone in eligible cases) when you meet the eligibility criteria, which include being established with the practice or meeting the existing-relationship rule. When bulk billing applies, you pay nothing out of pocket. Abby Health is bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card. Strict eligibility criteria apply.
Without Medicare, or where bulk billing doesn't apply. A private telehealth consult typically costs between $30 and $90 for a standard appointment, depending on the clinic and whether it's a longer or shorter consult. You may be able to claim a partial Medicare rebate afterward if you have an item number that fits.
For uninsured visitors or those without a Medicare card. Costs are private. Some clinics also offer flat-rate non-Medicare consults for things like medical certificates.
The rebate landscape changes from time to time. The current MBS schedule is the source of truth (MBS Online, 2026). For Abby's pricing and what's covered, the bulk billing explainer and what does Medicare cover are useful primers.
Telehealth works best when you treat it like any other GP visit, with a few small adjustments.
Be somewhere private and well-lit. A quiet room beats a noisy car. The GP needs to see you clearly, and you need to be able to talk freely about symptoms.
Have your medications and history ready. A list of what you take, doses, allergies, and recent test results saves time. If you've been seen elsewhere recently, knowing the date and clinic helps.
Be specific about symptoms. When did this start? What makes it better or worse? Anything that's changed? Specific answers lead to specific plans. Vague answers lead to a longer consult.
Have a pharmacy in mind. If you're likely to need a script, knowing your preferred pharmacy speeds up the eScript flow. The GP will send a token there, or to your phone.
Know your follow-up plan before you hang up. Confirm what you should do if symptoms get worse, when to come back, and whether you need pathology, imaging, or an in-person review. A good telehealth consult ends with a clear plan, not a vague "see how you go".
If continuity matters to you (and for most chronic issues it should), book with the same clinician where possible. Three in four Abby patients see the same doctor again on follow-up (Abby Health internal data, Q1 2026), which makes the next consult easier and the plan tighter.
Telehealth is well-suited to a wide range of GP work: scripts, repeats, pathology requests, mental health reviews, sick certificates, contraception advice, follow-ups on previous visits, referrals, simple skin concerns, and many infections that don't need physical examination. For these, video is genuinely as good as in-person.
There are limits, and good clinicians are upfront about them. Some things genuinely need a physical examination: chest pain, abdominal pain that needs palpation, ear examinations needing otoscopy, anything requiring a pap smear or pelvic exam, complex skin lesions that need closer inspection. For these, telehealth is often the right first step (triaging whether you need to be seen in person), but it's not the final step.
There are also situations where telehealth is the wrong tool entirely. Anything that looks like an emergency, severe chest pain, signs of stroke, suicidal crisis, severe allergic reaction, needs 000 or your nearest emergency department, not a video call. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has clear guidance on what telehealth is suitable for (RACGP, 2026), and a good telehealth GP will tell you honestly when you need to be seen in person.
Book a telehealth appointment
Abby Health is an online-first clinic where Australian GPs see patients seven days a week, often on the same day. Bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card. Strict eligibility criteria apply.
The booking flow is short. Choose a time or join the first-available queue, complete a brief intake so the GP arrives informed, and join the video call from your phone or laptop. Abby AI surfaces your history and recent issues for the clinician, so you don't have to start from scratch even if you're seeing a different doctor that day. Scripts go to your nominated pharmacy as eScripts. Pathology and imaging requests are sent in advance. Follow-up with the same clinician is the default, not the exception.
Abby's care network includes 300+ clinicians (Abby Health internal data, Q1 2026), with clinical governance led by an AMA NSW Council member. The 71% rebook rate (Abby Health internal data, Q1 2026) is the proof point that matters most: continuity is built in, not bolted on. To book, schedule an appointment.
How quickly can I get a telehealth appointment in Australia?
Same-day appointments are widely available with most online-first clinics. Abby offers same-day consults seven days a week, subject to availability. The first-available queue is usually the fastest path.
Do I need a referral for a telehealth GP appointment?
No. You can book a telehealth GP appointment directly. A referral is only needed if you're seeing a specialist, in which case the GP can issue an online referral during the consult.
Can a telehealth GP prescribe for me?
Yes, with the same rules that apply to any GP. They can prescribe most medications electronically as eScripts. Some controlled medications have additional requirements, and a small number cannot be prescribed via telehealth at all.
Is a telehealth appointment private and confidential?
Yes. Telehealth consults are subject to the same privacy laws as in-person GP visits, governed by the Privacy Act and the Australian Privacy Principles. Notes are stored in your medical record under the same protections.
What if the GP says I need to be seen in person?
That's a feature, not a problem. A telehealth GP can refer you for in-person assessment, organise pathology or imaging, or, in urgent cases, direct you to an emergency department. The triage itself has value.
Will my regular GP know I had a telehealth appointment?
Only if you ask the telehealth clinic to send a summary across, or if your records are shared via My Health Record. For continuity, telling your regular GP about any other consults is sensible.
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The information reflects guidance available as of the "last updated" date shown above. Medical knowledge evolves, and individual circumstances vary — always discuss decisions about your care with a qualified clinician.
In an emergency, call 000 or attend your nearest emergency department. Abby Health is not an emergency service. For mental health crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
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