Opt-out for My Health Record 011-04150000

This document outlines key information on the My Health Record opt-out record.

Opt-out My Health Records

From mid 2018 every Australian will receive a My Health Record.

The date has not been announced.

Until then, the My Health Record is currently an opt-in system for both individuals and healthcare providers.

How to opt-out

An online opt-out portal will be available for individuals and families when the opt-out period commences. It is not available now.

The My Health Record enquiry line will offer an opt-out service as well.

The Resources page contains a link to the My Health Record enquiry line.

Individuals wanting to opt-out

Currently, there is no ‘wait list’ for individuals to opt out.

The national opt-out period and timing will be announced early next year. Date to be confirmed.

Individuals can get a generic email about the opt out measure: go to the My Health Record website (see Resources page for a link) and scroll down to the Budget announcement information and enter their email address.

Service Officers should advise individuals to visit the My Health Record website (see Resources page for a link) for up-to-date information about the My Health Record system.

The Resources page contains questions and answers about My Health Record privacy concerns.

Individuals who don’t need to opt-out

Individuals don’t need to opt out if they:

opted out of getting a record during the 2016 trials
cancelled a record

Individuals who currently have a record will not be able to opt out. They must follow the existing cancellation procedure. See Cancel an individual’s My Health Record.

Opting out newborn children

Individuals can only opt out of getting a record for themselves and their children after the opt-out period commences (date has not been announced).

Parents who chose not to get a record for their newborn when submitting registration information before the opt-out period will still have to opt their child out.

Caller concerns

The Resources page contains questions and answers to help Service Officers assist individuals with basic privacy questions and general opt out questions.

Service Officers should warm transfer providers to Tier 2 My Health Record provider line, see My Health Record.

Historical opt-out trial information

An opt-out model of participation for the My Health Record system trialled in North Queensland and Nepean Blue Mountain regions. The trial was completed in 2016.

We do not have information about the outcomes of the trial.

Service Officers should advise individuals to visit the My Health Record website (see Resources page for a link) for up-to-date information about the My Health Record system.

The Resources page contains:

questions and answers about My Health Record privacy concerns
letters that were sent during the mail out
links to the My Health Record website

Cancellation of an individual’s bulk created My Health Record

Individuals who had a My Health Record created for them as part of the opt-out trial can cancel their record at any time, however before they can cancel their record, they must link to their record.

Opt-out trial participants are able to cancel their My Health Record themselves by linking it to their existing MyGov account, entering the record and selecting Cancel My Health Record. See the Procedure Help Individual or parental authorised representative to cancel a My Health Record.

Service Officers can cancel a My Health Record on behalf of an opt-out trial participant through the Admin Portal. See Cancel an individual’s bulk created My Health Record table in Cancel an individual’s My Health Record.

The Resources page contains general opt out information questions and answers, privacy concerns questions and answers, historical opt out trial 2016 information including the letters that were sent during the initial mail out and the transaction reference number and a link to the My Health Record website.