If you’re looking for support for an eating disorder, one of the most common questions is what is actually available through Medicare.
If you’re looking for a quick overview of how this works, you can read our frequently asked questions here:
With an Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan, within a 12 month period you may be eligible for:
- Up to 40 sessions with a mental health clinician, such as a psychologist or accredited mental health social worker
- Up to 20 sessions with a dietitian
When you break this down, it can mean accessing support more than once per week at times. For many people, this allows for a level of care that better reflects the realities of eating disorder recovery.
What is an Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan?
This level of support is available through what is called an Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan.
This plan is developed with your GP and allows access to extended Medicare funded care across a multi-disciplinary team.
How common are eating disorders?
Eating disorders are more common than many people realise.
In Australia, more than 1.1 million people are currently experiencing an eating disorder, and around 1 in 10 people will experience one across their lifetime.
At the same time, many people delay seeking support because they:
- Are not sure if it is serious enough
- Do not identify with a specific diagnosis
- Assume help will be limited
- Don’t know where to start
- Are limited by the cost of seeking help
What support for eating disorders can look like
Eating disorders are rarely just about food.
Support often involves looking at:
- Patterns of control
- Ways of coping with distress
- Your relationship with your body
- Underlying emotional experiences
Because of this, Medicare funding is designed to support care across a small multi-disciplinary team, which may include:
- A GP
- A psychologist or other mental health clinician
- A dietitian
- And sometimes a psychiatrist
Getting started with an eating disorder plan
The first step is usually a longer appointment with your GP.
This allows them to:
- Understand what has been happening
- Assess both physical and mental health
- Determine whether an Eating Disorder Plan is appropriate
From there, they can refer you to the relevant clinicians and help coordinate your care.
For safety reasons, this GP involvement is important.
At our clinic, we require clients seeking support for an eating disorder to be linked with a GP. This helps ensure you are supported both physically and psychologically as you begin therapy.
How Medicare sessions are structured
If you are eligible, support may include:
- Regular therapy sessions
- Dietitian support
- GP reviews to monitor physical health
Sessions are usually provided in stages, with review points along the way.
If you are unsure whether you qualify
You do not need to have this figured out before reaching out.
A GP or psychologist can help you:
- Understand what is going on
- Explore whether an Eating Disorder Plan is appropriate
- Talk through the options available
There is support available
Many people assume support will be limited.
But for eating disorders, Medicare recognises that care often needs to involve multiple health professionals and be longer term.
Up to 40 therapy sessions and 20 dietitian sessions can create space for:
- Building trust
- Understanding patterns more deeply
- Making changes that are sustainable and lead to positive change in your life
Getting support
The Medicare system can feel complex at first, but you do not need to navigate it on your own.
If you’d prefer a shorter, step by step overview, you can also read our FAQ page here.
If you are unsure where to start, our Support Team is here to help. If you would like to explore support, you can reach out here or call us on (03) 9376 1958.
