How to cancel your my health record and protect your personal health data
Why you might want to cancel your my health record
Your My Health Record is a digital repository of your health information maintained by the Australian Government. It aggregates medical summaries, test results, prescriptions, and provider notes into a single online record accessible to you and your authorised healthcare providers. However, you retain an absolute right to cancel it at any time, with or without stated reason.
Legitimate grounds for cancellation include privacy concerns about centralised data storage, lack of active use, or preference for paper-based records. Some Australians cancel after experiencing integration issues with private health insurance or telehealth providers. Others decide that the privacy risks outweigh the convenience benefits. Whatever your motivation, Yafee has created this guide to walk you through the cancellation process step by step, ensuring you understand your legal position and your options.
Common reasons australians cancel their my health record
Privacy and data security concerns dominate cancellation requests. You may worry about government data retention, unauthorised access, or your information being linked to other agencies. Some users distrust centralised health databases despite legislative protections, or they have read media reports of health system breaches and chosen to reduce their digital exposure.
Others cancel because they find the portal unintuitive, or because their healthcare providers do not integrate with My Health Record. A smaller cohort cancel after discovering automatic billing linked to telehealth or clinic services that depend on record integration. Your decision to withdraw is valid, and Yafee advocates for your right to exit without friction or penalty.
What happens to your health data after cancellation
When you cancel your My Health Record, the Australian Government removes your digital record from the national register. However, this action does not erase the original documents, test results, or clinical notes held by your general practitioner, specialists, or pathology providers. Those organisations retain their own copies under their own record-keeping obligations.
If you require that information in future, you can request it directly from each healthcare provider at no charge. Under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and Australian Consumer Law, providers must supply your information within a reasonable timeframe, typically 10 to 30 days depending on the volume and complexity of records.
Your legal position: consumer rights and data protection in australia
In Australia, your right to cancel your My Health Record is protected by legislation and regulatory frameworks.
Legal framework governing your cancellation right
The My Health Records Act 2012 (Cth) grants you an unconditional right to request cancellation of your My Health Record at any time. You are not required to provide a reason, pay a fee, or wait a notice period. The Australian Government is legally obliged to process your cancellation request and remove your record from the national register within 30 calendar days.
Your personal health data is also protected under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), which sets out Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). These principles require organisations holding your health information to handle it securely, transparently, and only for authorised purposes. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) enforces these principles and can investigate complaints about misuse or unauthorised disclosure.
Additionally, the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)) protects you against misleading representations about your cancellation rights or data handling practices. If the Australian Government or a linked service provider makes false claims about your ability to cancel or what happens to your data, you may lodge a complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Your legal position: what you can expect
You have the right to: cancel your My Health Record without reason or delay; receive written confirmation of your cancellation; access your original health records from providers; lodge a complaint with the OAIC if your personal information is mishandled; and request the Australian Government to explain why your cancellation was delayed if it takes longer than 30 days.
You are not liable for: any fee or charge related to cancellation; any delay in cancellation caused by system maintenance or processing errors; any financial penalty or service withdrawal as retaliation for cancelling; or any claim by linked services (such as telehealth providers) that you must maintain a My Health Record as a condition of using their service.
Methods to cancel your my health record
The Australian Government offers two pathways to cancel: online via your myGov account, or in writing by post or email.
Online cancellation via myGov (fastest method)
Cancelling through your myGov account is the quickest route and typically takes 5 to 10 minutes. You receive instant confirmation and a digital record of your request.
Step 1: access your myGov account
Navigate to mygov.au in your web browser. Enter your myGov username (usually your email address) and password. If you do not have a myGov account, you must create one first using your Medicare number, email address, and a secure password.
Step 2: locate my health record in your linked services
Once logged in, examine your dashboard for "My Health Record" in your linked services panel. If you do not see it listed, click "Link a service", search for "My Health Record", and follow the prompts to link it. This step is necessary only if you have not previously linked the service.
Step 3: open the my health record portal
Click on the "My Health Record" tile or link to enter the My Health Record portal. You will be directed to the official My Health Records system interface.
Step 4: navigate to profile and settings
Look for "Profile and settings" or "Account settings" - typically displayed as a gear icon or your name in the top-right corner of the screen. Click to open the menu.
Step 5: select profile and scroll to cancellation option
From the dropdown menu, choose "Profile". Scroll down the page until you locate the "Cancel My Health Record" button or link.
Step 6: confirm your cancellation request
Click "Cancel My Health Record". The system will display a confirmation screen summarising the cancellation process and any final warnings. Read this carefully, then select "Confirm" or "Yes, cancel my record" to finalise your request. You will receive an on-screen confirmation message and an email confirmation to the address registered on your myGov account.
Written cancellation by post or email (alternative method)
If you prefer not to use the online portal, you may cancel by submitting a written request to the My Health Records office.
Prepare your written cancellation request
Write a short letter or email stating: your full name, your date of birth, your Medicare number, and a clear statement that you wish to cancel your My Health Record. You do not need to provide a reason. Include the date of your request and sign the letter (if posted) or include your contact details (if emailed).
Submit your request to the correct address
Post your signed letter to the My Health Records office at: My Health Records, GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601. Alternatively, email your request to: [email protected]. Retain a copy for your records and consider requesting a postal tracking service or email read receipt to confirm receipt.
Track processing and confirm cancellation
The Australian Government must process your written cancellation request within 30 calendar days of receipt. You will receive a formal cancellation confirmation letter or email. If you do not receive confirmation within 35 days, contact the My Health Records office on 1800 723 471 (toll-free) to escalate your request.
Timeline and what to expect after cancellation
Understanding the cancellation timeline and post-cancellation process helps you verify that your record has been properly removed.
Processing timeline for your cancellation
Online cancellations via myGov are processed immediately. You receive on-screen confirmation and an email confirmation within 5 to 10 minutes. Your My Health Record is deactivated from the national register within 24 to 48 hours.
Written cancellations by post or email take longer. The My Health Records office has up to 30 calendar days to process your request. Processing typically takes 7 to 14 business days. You will receive a formal written confirmation once your record is cancelled.
Verification and confirmation of cancellation
After submitting your cancellation request online, check your email (including spam or junk folders) for a confirmation message from MyGov or My Health Records. This message will include a reference number and the cancellation date.
You can verify that your record is cancelled by logging back into your myGov account after 24 to 48 hours and checking whether "My Health Record" still appears in your linked services. If the service no longer appears, or if it shows a "not linked" or "inactive" status, your cancellation has been processed successfully.
If you submitted a written request, retain the confirmation letter or email as proof of cancellation. This documentation is useful if a healthcare provider or linked service questions your cancellation status in future.
What happens to your data: post-cancellation privacy considerations
Cancellation removes your record from the national register, but it does not erase all copies of your health information held by others.
Data retention by healthcare providers
Your general practitioner, specialists, hospital, and pathology services retain their own copies of clinical records, test results, and prescriptions under Australian health privacy laws and professional guidelines. These organisations are required to keep records for a minimum period (typically 7 years for adults, longer for children) for legal, regulatory, and continuity-of-care reasons.
Your cancellation of My Health Record does not trigger automatic deletion from these provider systems. If you wish to request deletion of specific information from a particular provider, you may submit a formal request under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), but providers can refuse deletion if they have a legal obligation to retain the record.
Accessing your health records after cancellation
After cancelling your My Health Record, you can still access your health information directly from each healthcare provider. You have the right to request a copy of your medical records from your general practitioner, hospital, or specialist clinic at no charge or minimal cost. Providers must supply this information within a reasonable timeframe, typically 10 to 30 days depending on the volume and format of records.
If a provider refuses or delays your request unreasonably, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au.
Potential pitfalls and common mistakes
Cancelling your My Health Record is straightforward, but a few missteps can delay the process or cause confusion. Yafee has identified the most common errors so you can avoid them.
Mistaking "access restrictions" for cancellation
Some users restrict access to their My Health Record (blocking specific providers or information types) and believe they have cancelled it. Restricting access is not the same as cancellation. Your record remains in the national register and can still be seen by authorised providers unless you formally cancel. To fully exit the system, you must complete a cancellation request, not merely restrict access.
Submitting a written request but forgetting medicare number
If you cancel by post or email, always include your Medicare number. Without it, the My Health Records office may delay processing because they cannot reliably identify your record. Your Medicare number is the unique identifier used to match your request to your My Health Record. If you forget to include it, contact the office immediately with your Medicare number to expedite processing.
Not keeping cancellation confirmation
After cancelling online, save or print your confirmation screen and retain the confirmation email. If a healthcare provider later claims they cannot access your record (or conversely, if they claim your record is still active), you will need proof of your cancellation date. Yafee recommends saving your confirmation email to a folder labelled "Health Records" for future reference.
Assuming cancellation covers linked private services
Cancelling your My Health Record does not automatically cancel your account or data held by linked telehealth, private health insurance, or clinic services. These organisations maintain separate accounts and data stores. If you also want to cancel those services, contact them directly. Yafee can help you navigate those separate cancellations as well.
Comparison: keep versus cancel your my health record
Before finalising your cancellation, weigh the benefits and drawbacks of maintaining your record against the privacy and convenience trade-offs.
| Factor |
Keep your My Health Record |
Cancel your My Health Record |
| Privacy risk |
Centralised data; potential unauthorised access |
Lower exposure; no national register entry |
| Healthcare convenience |
Instant access to full history across providers |
Manual requests to each provider |
| Emergency access |
Paramedics can view critical information instantly |
No emergency digital access |
| Data control |
Government maintains; you can restrict access |
You control your information; no national copy |
| Cancellation complexity |
Not applicable |
Simple; 5 minutes online or 30 days by post |
| Legal protection |
Privacy Act safeguards; OAIC oversight |
Same protections apply to provider records |
After your cancellation: checklist and next steps
Once you have submitted your cancellation request, follow this checklist to ensure your record is properly removed and your information remains secure.
Immediate actions (within 1 day of cancellation)
- Save or print your cancellation confirmation screen (online) or email receipt (written request).
- Record the cancellation date and reference number in a secure location.
- Check your email for the official confirmation from myGov or My Health Records office.
Follow-up actions (within 7 days of cancellation)
- Log back into your myGov account and verify that "My Health Record" no longer appears in your linked services or shows as "inactive".
- Notify your regular general practitioner and any specialists that you have cancelled your My Health Record, so they are aware that future record-sharing will not occur via the national register.
- If you linked any telehealth or private health services to your My Health Record, contact those organisations separately to cancel those accounts if desired.
Long-term management (30+ days after cancellation)
- If you submitted a written cancellation request, expect your formal confirmation letter within 30 calendar days. If it does not arrive, contact the My Health Records office on 1800 723 471.
- Retain your cancellation confirmation for at least 7 years for your records.
- If a healthcare provider claims your My Health Record is still active, provide them with your cancellation confirmation and ask them to note it in their system.
Cancelling your My Health Record is a straightforward process when you follow the correct steps. However, if you encounter delays, refusals, or disputes about your cancellation status, Yafee has helped thousands of consumers navigate complex cancellations and exercise their consumer rights effectively.
If the My Health Records office refuses your cancellation request or fails to process it within 30 days, or if you need to escalate a complaint about data handling or unauthorised access, contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at oaic.gov.au or call 1300 363 992. You can also lodge a complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) if you believe you have been treated unfairly or misled about your rights.
Yafee remains committed to protecting your digital rights and ensuring you can cancel services with confidence and clarity. Visit Yafee.com for additional consumer guides, rights summaries, and step-by-step cancellation instructions across dozens of Australian services.
Yafee contact address: Yafee, Australia. Email: [email protected]. Phone: contact via yafee.com for consumer assistance and escalation support.