What's the difference between NewDoc and InstantConsult?
NewDoc bulk-bills every consultation it offers, so your visit is $0 if you're Medicare eligible, and your eScript, referral, or certificate from the same visit is included. InstantConsult charges a $45 general consultation and runs 6 am to midnight AEST, 7 days. Its bulk billing is stated only for patients under 12 months of age.
Both use AHPRA-registered doctors. NewDoc uses fellowship-qualified, Australian-trained GPs only. InstantConsult describes itself as doctor-led and doesn't mention nurse practitioners.
NewDoc vs InstantConsult at a glance
NewDoc and InstantConsult are both Australian online doctor services. The difference is how each one charges you. InstantConsult charges a single $45 general consultation and runs a long day: 6 am to midnight AEST, 7 days a week. It doesn't separately itemise per-product prices for prescriptions, certificates, or referrals on the page sampled at the verification date.
NewDoc bulk-bills the consultation under Medicare. Your eScript and any document from the same visit are included, so you pay nothing out of pocket if you're an eligible cardholder.
The table below shows how the two compare on what you pay and what you get. Comparison data verified as at 8 August 2026.
NewDoc bulk-bills the consultation under Medicare at $0 for eligible Medicare cardholders, with the eScript and any same-visit referral or certificate included. InstantConsult charges a $45 general consultation and operates 6 am to midnight AEST, 7 days, bulk billing only for patients under 12 months.
| Dimension | NewDoc | InstantConsult |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Bulk-billed Medicare consult | Per-consult fee |
| Lowest listed price | $0 (Medicare) | $45 (general consultation) |
| Bulk-billed? | Yes | Patients under 12 months only |
| Doctor type | Fellowship-qualified specialist GPs only | AHPRA-registered Australian doctors |
| Same-day availability | Yes | Yes |
| Mental health care plan | Yes (bulk billed) | Not publicly listed |
| Referrals | Yes (included in consult) | Specialist, pathology, and imaging referrals offered; per-item prices not publicly listed |
Comparison data verified as at 8 August 2026. Values reflect each provider's lowest publicly listed pricing or stated feature on their own website. Prices and features change. Check InstantConsult directly for current information before booking. "Bulk-billed" = no out-of-pocket cost for eligible Medicare cardholders.
When NewDoc fits
If you're Medicare eligible, NewDoc is the cheaper path, and the gap widens every time you need another document or another visit. NewDoc is the better fit if:
- You're Medicare eligible and want to pay $0 out of pocket for the visit and any documents issued.
- You want a fellowship-qualified, Australian-trained GP on the call, guaranteed.
- You're managing an ongoing condition and want every review, pathology order, and script repeat bulk billed.
- You want a Mental Health Treatment Plan. It happens inside the same bulk-billed consultation.
- You need a few things at once. One bulk-billed visit covers your script, referral, or certificate together, with no consultation fee applying each time.
When InstantConsult might fit
InstantConsult is an established doctor-led service, and there are real situations where it's the sensible choice:
- You need care very early or very late. Its 6 am to midnight window covers hours outside NewDoc's usual day.
- You're not eligible for Medicare and want one clear number to plan around: a $45 consultation fee.
- You want a doctor-led service that doesn't use nurse practitioners, which InstantConsult states on its site.
Worked example: a year of GP consultations
Say you're Medicare eligible and see a GP four times across the year. Comparing on the publicly listed prices as at 8 August 2026:
- At NewDoc: $0 for the year. Each visit is bulk billed, and any eScript or referral is included.
- At InstantConsult: 4 consultations at $45 each is $180 for the year on the publicly listed consultation fee, before any per-product charges.
If you need care at 6:30 in the morning, InstantConsult's wider window can be the deciding factor. Within NewDoc's opening hours, your consultation and anything issued during it are $0 if you're Medicare eligible.
Verify both before booking
Prices and features change, so don't just take our word for it. Every claim above was checked against each provider's own website as at 8 August 2026. Before you book, confirm current pricing on NewDoc's pricing page and check InstantConsult's own site directly. For a wider comparison across all major Australian online doctor services, see our hub comparison.
Last reviewed 8 August 2026. Editorial policy