Pregnancy scans and Medicare: what's covered

Pregnancy involves several scans, and it’s fair to wonder what they’ll cost. In Australia, most routine pregnancy imaging is ultrasound — which uses no radiation — and much of it attracts a Medicare rebate. Here’s how the cost side works.

Which pregnancy scans Medicare helps with

With a referral from your GP, obstetrician or midwife, the common pregnancy ultrasounds generally attract a Medicare rebate, including:^[1]

• an early dating scan;
• the mid-pregnancy morphology (anatomy) scan at around 18–20 weeks;
• additional growth or wellbeing scans when clinically needed.

Because these use ultrasound (or, occasionally, MRI), they involve no ionising radiation — the cost question is separate from any safety question.^[3]

Bulk billing vs a gap

As with other imaging, Medicare pays a set rebate and each clinic sets its own fee.^[1]

• Some clinics bulk bill pregnancy ultrasounds, so you pay nothing.
• Others charge a gap — the difference between their fee and the rebate — which varies between providers.^[2]

Specialised scans (for example a detailed morphology scan at a specialist practice, or extra scans in a higher-risk pregnancy) may carry a larger gap.

How to keep costs down

• Ask when booking: “Do you bulk bill pregnancy ultrasounds, and if not, what’s my out-of-pocket cost?”
• Ask your GP or midwife whether a bulk-billing provider is available nearby.
• Keep your referral handy — a valid request is what unlocks the rebate.
• Check the government Medical Costs Finder for typical fees.^[2]

Frequently asked questions

Are pregnancy ultrasounds free in Australia?

Often largely covered — routine pregnancy ultrasounds attract a Medicare rebate with a referral, and some clinics bulk bill them so there’s no cost. Others charge a gap that varies, so ask when booking.^[1]

Is the 20-week scan covered?

The mid-pregnancy morphology scan generally attracts a Medicare rebate with a referral. Whether you pay a gap depends on the clinic — some bulk bill it.^[1]

Do pregnancy scans use radiation?

No — pregnancy imaging is ultrasound (sound waves) or, occasionally, MRI (magnets), neither of which uses ionising radiation.^[3]