Short answer

• Yes — GPs in Australia can run telehealth consultations after hours and they may charge a private fee for them. Medicare provides rebated telehealth (video/phone) item numbers that can apply to after‑hours consults, but whether you pay nothing (bulk‑billed), pay a portion (gap), or pay the full private fee depends on the practice, your eligibility and the MBS item used. (servicesaustralia.gov.au)

What “after‑hours” telehealth means for rebates

• The MBS includes telehealth (phone and video) items and after‑hours attendance items; there are specific item numbers for telehealth and for after‑hours consultations. Whether a consultation is eligible for a Medicare rebate depends on the item number used and the practice’s rules (and some recent MBS/MyMedicare rule changes affect eligibility). (www9.health.gov.au)

Who pays what (common scenarios)

• Bulk‑billed after‑hours telehealth: some services (including government-funded after‑hours/triage programs or dedicated after‑hours GP services) offer free telehealth after hours — e.g. trial/expanded after‑hours helplines and some urgent‑care telehealth programs. Political/health announcements in 2024–25 have pledged/expanded a national after‑hours service (1800MEDICARE/Healthdirect‑type model) intended to give free after‑hours telehealth access. (www1.racgp.org.au)
• Private billing with Medicare rebate: many regular practices charge a fee for telehealth consults (including after hours) and you receive a Medicare rebate for the applicable telehealth item. The gap you pay is the consult fee minus the Medicare rebate. Actual out‑of‑pocket amounts vary by practice and consult length. Examples from clinic fee schedules show typical gaps of around $50–$100 for a 15–20 minute telehealth consult, with higher fees for long or after‑hours slots. Some after‑hours providers charge surcharges (even if Medicare rebate applies). (wahroongagp.com.au)
• Private telehealth companies / urgent‑care telehealth: some national private telehealth services charge a flat fee (examples around $60–$100 per 15‑minute consult) and may not attract a Medicare rebate (so no rebate if the MBS conditions aren’t met). (privatemedical.net)
• Home‑visit/after‑9pm examples: dedicated after‑hours home‑visit/telehealth services show larger fees/gap charges for very late or weekend slots (examples with higher upfront fees or surcharges). (nightdr.com.au)

Recent/important policy points to know (2024–2025)

• The MBS telehealth rules have been rewritten/updated in 2024–2025 (telehealth now covers video and phone and there were item changes effective in 2025); eligibility rules have been changing (e.g. MyMedicare enrolment and local program rules affect which telehealth items are payable). Check Services Australia / MBS Online for the exact item numbers that apply to your situation. (servicesaustralia.gov.au)

Practical tips (what you can do right now)

• Before the consult, ask the practice/reception: “Is this after‑hours telehealth bulk‑billed? If not, what is the full fee and what Medicare rebate will I get (which MBS item)?” That tells you the expected out‑of‑pocket cost. (brisbanegp.com.au)
• If cost is a concern, ask whether they will bulk‑bill you (eligibility varies: concession cards, children, some urgent/after‑11pm rules or special programs may be bulk‑billed). (ochrehealth.com.au)
• If you need free after‑hours advice/triage, call Healthdirect / the national after‑hours line (the government has invested in expanding these services) — these services can sometimes connect you to a GP by phone/video without an out‑of‑pocket fee. (theaustralian.com.au)

Where I pulled examples and rules from

• Services Australia / MBS telehealth & item pages (shows telehealth and after‑hours items and eligibility). (www9.health.gov.au)
• RACGP / news articles describing changes and after‑hours telehealth expansions. (www1.racgp.org.au)
• Example clinic fee schedules and after‑hours providers that illustrate typical private fees, surcharges and gap amounts. (These are examples to show ranges — individual clinics differ). (wahroongagp.com.au)

If you want, I can:

• Look up the telehealth fee/rebate details for a specific GP practice or local after‑hours service (give me the clinic name or suburb) and calculate the expected out‑of‑pocket cost for a 15‑ or 20‑minute after‑hours telehealth consult using current clinic fees and the MBS rebate.