Money questions can make it hard to take the first step. If you have a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP, you may be wondering whether psychology sessions are bulk billed and what the Medicare support actually covers. The short answer is that Medicare provides a rebate for eligible sessions each calendar year, but whether you pay anything out of pocket depends on the fees set by the practice you attend. If you are looking for a bulk billed psychologist, it’s important to understand how Medicare rebates and clinic fees work together.
A Mental Health Care Plan is a document your GP completes with you. It records your goals and outlines a referral pathway for psychological therapy. With a valid plan and referral, you can access a set number of rebated sessions per calendar year under the Better Access initiative. These sessions occur in blocks, with a review partway through. Your GP remains involved, which keeps your care coordinated and safe.
Bulk billing means the provider accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment for the service. When a service is bulk billed, there is no out-of-pocket cost to you. Many private psychology practices, however, charge a standard fee for sessions. In that case, you pay the fee and then receive a Medicare rebate back into your account, leaving a “gap” amount. Some practices offer concessional fees or bulk-billing options for clients in financial hardship, health care card holders, students or during specific clinic times. If you are specifically seeking a bulk billed psychologist, it’s always okay to ask about fees before booking; a transparent clinic will tell you clearly what to expect.
Running a safe, ethical practice involves costs that the Medicare benefit does not fully cover, such as ongoing registration and professional development, clinical supervision, insurances, practice software, administration and room costs. A gap fee helps keep services sustainable while allowing clinicians to spend the time needed to provide quality care. Importantly, a gap fee does not change your entitlement to claim the Medicare rebate for eligible sessions.
Here is what the usual pathway looks like. You visit your GP to talk about what you have been experiencing. If appropriate, they will prepare a Mental Health Care Plan and provide a referral to a psychologist. The plan initially enables a set number of sessions. After you complete those, your psychologist writes a brief progress letter to your GP, and you return to your GP for a review to access further sessions within the annual limit. This shared-care model makes sure the treatment remains targeted and helpful.
Private health insurance is separate to Medicare. If you have extras cover, your fund may contribute to psychology services, but you generally cannot claim private health and Medicare for the same session. Some people use private health for sessions outside the Medicare program, for example after they have used their annual Medicare allocation, or when they prefer not to return to their GP for reviews.
Some clients attend through an employee assistance program arranged by their workplace, which usually covers a small number of sessions at no cost to the employee. Others may be eligible for funding through schemes such as the NDIS for disability-related supports. Your psychologist can help you understand which options match your circumstances and how to organise the right paperwork.
If you are comparing clinics, look at more than the fee. Consider availability, the therapist’s experience with your concerns, their approach to therapy, and how you feel in the first session. A slightly higher fee with the right fit often costs less in the long run because the work is focused and effective. Ask about cancellation policies, online claiming, and any concessional rates. A good clinic will normalise these questions and respond with clarity and kindness.
The decision to start therapy is significant, and finances are a real part of that decision. Our aim is to make the process as transparent as possible so that cost is not a mystery on top of everything else. If you have a Mental Health Care Plan, you are eligible for Medicare rebates for a set number of sessions each calendar year with appropriate referrals and reviews. Whether your sessions are bulk billed or rebated with a gap depends on the clinic you choose.
If money has been a barrier, reach out. We are happy to explain fees, rebates and funding pathways in plain language and to help you find an option that fits. Whether you’re looking for a bulk billed psychologist or exploring other affordable care options, your wellbeing is worth the conversation — and clarity can make the first step much easier.
