Mental Health Care Plan — 10 Subsidised Sessions
If you have Medicare, you can get up to 10 individual and 10 group therapy sessions per calendar year subsidised by Medicare. Here's how:
- Book a long appointment with your GP. Tell reception you want a "Mental Health Care Plan" appointment (usually 30-40 minutes). Ask for a bulk-billing GP if cost is a concern.
- Talk to your GP about how you're feeling. They'll do a short assessment and create a Mental Health Care Plan. This is a written plan for your treatment.
- Get a referral to a psychologist or mental health professional. Your GP will give you a referral. You can choose your own psychologist or ask your GP for a recommendation.
- Book with the psychologist. Call the psychologist and mention you have a Mental Health Care Plan and referral. Medicare will cover part or all of the cost (rebate is ~$93 per session).
- Return to your GP after 6 sessions for a review. Your GP will review your progress and can authorise up to 4 more sessions (10 total per year).
Cost: With a Mental Health Care Plan, the Medicare rebate is ~$93 per session. Some psychologists bulk bill (free), but many charge a gap of $50-$150 per session. Ask about fees when booking.
No Medicare? If you don't have Medicare, you can still access mental health support. Lifeline, Beyond Blue, and headspace offer free services regardless of visa status. Some community health centres offer free or low-cost counselling.