Medicare and Mental Health Treatment Plans can sometimes feel confusing.
This blog post breaks down some of the most common questions in plain language, so you can feel a bit more confident about how it all works.
What is a Mental Health Treatment Plan?
A Mental Health Treatment Plan is a plan you create with your GP that helps you access Medicare rebates for psychological therapy. It’s designed to make mental health support more affordable and accessible. Mental Health Treatment Plans are also sometimes called Mental Health Care Plans or Better Access plans.
How many sessions can I get with a Mental Health Treatment Plan?
As of July 2026, Medicare offers rebates for up to 10 individual sessions and 10 group sessions per calendar year. We don’t offer group sessions at Inner Melbourne Clinical Psychology.
You don’t get access to all 10 sessions at once. You usually start with six sessions (depending on what your GP decides), then return to your GP for a review to access the remaining four if needed. This step allows you, your therapist and your GP to check in on how therapy is going.
Can I get a Medicare rebate for more than 10 sessions in a year?
Under this particular scheme, 10 is the maximum number of Medicare-rebated individual sessions you can claim per calendar year.
There was a temporary increase to 20 sessions during the pandemic, but this has now ended.
Some people choose to continue therapy privately once they’ve used their 10 Medicare rebated sessions. Others pause until they have access to more rebates the next calendar year or space out their sessions across the year. Everyone’s needs and finances are different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all.
What exactly does ‘calendar year’ mean?
It simply means January to December, not a rolling 12 months from when you get started.
Who do I see for a Mental Health Treatment Plan?
Mental Health Treatment Plans are created by GPs and occasionally psychiatrists. During the appointment, your doctor will ask questions about how you’re doing and may use a brief screening questionnaire. They’ll then prepare the plan and provide a referral to a psychologist, accredited mental health social worker or GP mental health specialist. It’s important to book a long appointment so that you have plenty of time to chat in detail with your doctor.
Can any therapist see me under a Mental Health Treatment Plan?
To claim the Medicare rebate, the clinician you see needs to be:
- A registered psychologist, clinical psychologist, accredited mental health social worker, occupational therapist with mental health training or a GP mental health specialist
- Approved to provide services through Medicare
Is couples counselling covered under a Mental Health Treatment Plan?
No. Unfortunately Medicare does not cover sessions for couples, only individuals. If you have private health insurance, it’s worth checking with your provider to see if they offer any form of rebate for couples therapy.
Do Mental Health Treatment Plans expire?
The plan itself doesn’t technically expire, but the 10 rebated individual sessions reset each calendar year. Any unused sessions from the year before can be used the following year, without you having to return to your GP. They then count towards your 10 sessions for the following year. So if you’ve had seven rebated individual sessions before the year ends, you can use your three remaining sessions the following year before you need to return to your GP.
How much is the Medicare rebate?
As of June 2026, the rebates per session are:
- Clinical psychologist: $149.05
- Registered psychologist: $101.55
- Accredited mental health social worker: $89.50
- GP mental health specialist: $158.90
How do I receive my Medicare rebate?
After you have paid for your session, assuming you have provided our Support Team with your Medicare card details and an electronic copy of your paperwork and this all looks accurate, your Medicare rebate will be processed. Medicare will pay your rebate into whichever bank account you currently have registered with them within three business days.
Please note, in order for our Support Team to process your rebate, they require a referral letter along with your Mental Health Treatment Plan. This is generally automatically attached but if it’s missing, it’s easy to get one. Just contact your GP and ask them to send it through to us via fax or email.
When do I need to go back to my GP?
Your clinician will need to write to your GP after six sessions (or however many sessions your GP has referred you for) so that you can return to your GP to discuss continuing. This is called a review and it potentially allows you to access the remaining four Medicare-rebated sessions.
Does my psychologist or accredited mental health social worker need to talk to my GP?
As part of the Medicare reporting process, your treating clinician will provide brief written updates to your GP, usually after the initial session and at review points such as the sixth and tenth session. These letters summarise the focus of therapy and progress being made.
Can I see a psychologist or accredited mental health social worker without a Mental Health Treatment Plan?
Absolutely. Some people prefer to self-fund therapy or use private health insurance instead of Medicare.
Are there other Medicare plans that may cover psychology sessions?
Some people may be eligible to access psychology or other mental health services through a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan.
These plans are available to people who have a medical condition that has lasted, or is expected to last, for at least six months, or who have a terminal condition. The support provided must relate to the management of that chronic condition.
Eligible people can generally access Medicare rebates for up to five individual allied health services per calendar year. These sessions are shared across all allied health professionals included in the plan, which may include psychologists, physiotherapists, dietitians or other eligible providers. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may be eligible for up to 10 individual services each year.
Your GP will decide whether a Chronic Condition Management Plan is appropriate and which allied health services should be included. The eligibility requirements, referral process and Medicare rebate are different from those that apply to a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
Private Health Insurance Rebates
If your private health insurance includes psychology or counselling as part of your extras cover, you may be eligible for a partial rebate.
As rebates vary between insurers and levels of cover, we recommend contacting your provider directly to confirm your eligibility. Your rebate may also depend on whether your insurer recognises your particular therapist and the service provided.
You cannot claim both a Medicare rebate and a private health insurance rebate for the same session.
Do you offer bulk-billing?
We are a private psychology clinic and do not provide bulk-billing services.
Are you eligible for a Medicare rebate for a Telehealth session?
Telehealth appointments receive the same Medicare rebate as in-person appointments.
Do I need to have a Medicare referral in place to book an appointment?
You do not need a referral to book your first appointment with us. However, to receive a Medicare rebate, we must have a valid referral in place before the first appointment takes place.
The Medicare rebate does not cover the full fee
Medicare rebates cover part of the appointment fee. You need to pay the full fee upfront and Medicare will provide you with the rebate.
Have a question about Medicare that we haven’t answered?
Please get in touch with our friendly Support Team. Even as psychologists we sometimes have to double-check the rules with Medicare. Requirements change regularly and Medicare-speak is sometimes tricky to decipher, so we’re more than happy to try to help if you have a question you are wondering about. For the most up-to-date information, you may also like to have a look at this Medicare page.
