Is There a Medicare Rebate for Seeing a Psychologist?

What is the Medicare rebate for seeing a psychologist? 

In 2022–23, 10% of Australians claimed Medicare rebates for mental health services with seeing a psychologist ranking number one.¹Australian Institute of Health and Welfare – Medicare mental health services

Your Medicare rebate for psychology services actually depends on the type of psychologist you see. For 2023–24, an hour session with a general psychologist comes with a $93 rebate, while it’s $137 if you see a clinical one. FYI: clinical psychologists are the kind who specialise in mental illnesses, but you can still see a general psychologist for help with your mental health. 

However, your rebate is unlikely to cover the entire session fee. That’s because the Australian Psychological Society National Schedule of Suggested Fees for 2024-2025 suggests that the standard consultation fee be $311. This is a suggestion only though and fees are set at the discretion of the psychologist.  You may be able to find a bulk-billing psychologist so you aren’t left with any out-of-pocket costs, but it might not always be feasible.  

How do I claim seeing a psychologist on Medicare? 

This isn’t quite as easy as rocking up to your psychologist appointment and asking for the rebate. You’ll need to see your GP first to get a mental health treatment plan and a referral. Alternatively, you could be referred to a psychologist by a psychiatrist. 

When it comes to claiming the Medicare rebate, you can do so at the time of your session or pay in full and then either use the detailed item receipt to make your claim or the psychologist can process it on your behalf. 

By the way, if you don’t attend a bulk billing clinic, you can also claim that GP appointment through Medicare. Depending on how long it takes to put your treatment plan together and your eligible benefit, you could get back $61.30 to $152.80. When it comes time to review it, you could also claim either $61.30 or $81.70. 

Is there a cap on how many psychology sessions are covered by Medicare? 

Under the Better Access initiative — the one that lets you see a psychologist and claim the Medicare rebate for it — you’re able to claim up to 10 individual and 10 group sessions every calendar year. However, you’ll need to take a breather between sessions six and seven to head back to your GP. They’ll check in with you and do a follow-up assessment to see if you need the further four. 

Remember, your mental health treatment plan is only for the calendar year, so if you don’t use all your sessions before the new year, those sessions will be gone, and you’ll need a new plan. 

Is couples counselling covered by Medicare? 

Unfortunately, if your relationship is contributing to your poor mental health, you won’t be able to get any couples counselling subsidised by Medicare, even if it’s a psychologist running the session. The same goes for family therapy; neither counts as a group session.  

Of course, your psychologist may be able to help you plan strategies to work on your relationship as part of your individual session. You could then put these into practice and report back. 

Can I use my Private Health Insurance to see a psychologist? 

If your Extras Cover includes seeing a psychologist, you could use it to help pay for your sessions. There might be waiting periods, limits and restrictions that apply though, and they usually won’t cover the full amount. You can check your policy documents to see what the case is for you. 

In fact, using your Private Health Insurance might become your preferred way to look after your mental health because:  

• You won’t need a mental health treatment plan to see a psychologist and use your Extras Cover.
• You could have more sessions covered than with Medicare alone.
• Your cover could include couple and family sessions, so everyone is on the same page.
• Psychology may already be part of your Extras Cover you purchased for another reason, like for dental or optical.
• If your income is below a certain limit, having Extras Cover could mean you’re eligible for the Federal Government’s Private Health Insurance rebate. 

Can I use Medicare and Private Health Insurance to cover seeing a psychologist? 

If you thought you’d spotted a loophole for even cheaper psychology consultations, we hate to break it to you, but you can’t claim both the Medicare rebate and your Private Health Insurance benefit on the same session. But you could claim the Medicare rebate for those sessions covered by your mental health treatment plan, then use your Extras Cover for further psychologist appointments.  

Your Extras Cover likely comes with a limit, so you won’t be able to endlessly claim on sessions. However, with Medicare and Private Health Insurance, you might not hit the ceiling before the new year, and you could start claiming from Medicare again.

Where can I find and compare Private Health Insurance? 

Your mental health is part of your overall wellbeing, so seeing a psychologist could be part of a healthy routine, like going to the gym. Alternatively, you may just want to see a psychologist to help you work through a rough spot in your life. Either way, it’s possible to get Medicare rebates on psychology services. Although, you may find Private Health Insurance gives you even more value. 

You can compare a range of Extras Cover from different insurers online right now at iSelect. Alternatively, you can call 1800 784 772 to speak with one of our Health comparison experts to find your new policy. Either way, we’re here to help you save time and effort, so you’ve got the time and mental bandwidth to look after yourself.