10 subsidised psychology sessions with Medicare

How do the 10 subsidised psychology sessions work?

The “10 subsidised psychology sessions” refers to the subsidised mental health support available through Medicare’s Better Access initiative. Once your GP prepares a Mental Health Treatment Plan (still widely called a mental health care plan) and a referral letter, you’re eligible for a Medicare rebate of up to 10 individual sessions with a psychologist each calendar year. Your initial referral generally covers up to 6 of these sessions. Once you’ve used them, your GP reviews your progress and can issue a further referral for the remaining sessions, up to the annual maximum.

These sessions aren’t automatically free for everyone. Medicare pays a rebate, and many psychologists charge a gap fee on top of this. The sessions only become $0 out-of-pocket when you book with a psychologist who bulk bills, meaning they accept the rebate as full payment. That’s what we offer at Someone Health: Medicare card holders with a valid GP referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan are bulk billed for their Medicare-subsidised sessions, without the need for a concession card.

Who is eligible for 10 subsidised psychology sessions?

You’re generally eligible for 10 subsidised psychology sessions if you:

• ✓Hold a valid Medicare card (citizens, permanent residents, and eligible visa holders).
• ✓See a GP who determines that you’d benefit from psychological support.
• ✓Receive a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) and referral letter from your GP.

People can seek a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) for a diverse range of therapy areas including anxiety, depression, stress, grief, relationship difficulties, trauma, or burnout. Once you have your plan, choosing a bulk-billing provider like Someone Health is what turns your Medicare eligibility into sessions that cost you nothing out-of-pocket.

What is a Mental Health Treatment Plan?

A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP), often called a mental health care plan, is a document your GP prepares with you outlining your concerns, goals, and recommended support. It forms part of what allows you to claim your Medicare rebate.

You’ll typically require a longer GP consultation (a mental health consult) to talk through what you’re experiencing and prepare this plan. Referrals generally need to come from a GP at your MyMedicare-registered practice, or from your usual doctor. Your psychologist will send you back to your GP for a review after your first 6 sessions, and your GP’s referral letter is what determines how many further sessions you’re eligible for. If that letter doesn’t specify a number, and your psychologist has made a documented attempt to confirm it with your GP without a response, they can use their own clinical judgement on the number of sessions instead of waiting indefinitely for a response.

Once written, your plan is sent to your chosen psychologist. With Someone Health, you can add your Medicare details, Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral letter to your booking intake form, and our supportive team will confirm that everything is in order before you enter your first bulk-billed session.

How to access your 10 subsidised psychology sessions

1. 1

   Book a mental health consultation with your GP

   Ask specifically for a mental health consultation. Preparing the plan typically takes anywhere between 30 and 45 minutes with your GP.

2. 2

   Go through the assessment

   Your GP will discuss your symptoms and what support would be best for you.

3. 3

   Receive your plan and referral letter

   Your GP prepares a Mental Health Treatment Plan and a referral letter. Most GPs send these electronically, so there’s little to no administrative burden for you.

4. 4

   Choose your psychologist and book

   With Someone Health, browse Ahpra-registered psychologists and book online. Add your Medicare number and GP referral when you book, and your session is bulk billed, with no gap fee.

5. 5

   Attend via telehealth

   From home, work, or anywhere in Australia. Have your plan, referral letter and Medicare details ready when you make your booking.

What can you talk about in your sessions?

Psychology sessions are a confidential space to speak freely about experiences with anxiety, depression, stress and burnout, grief, relationship or family difficulties, trauma, self-esteem, addiction, life transitions or other related issues.

You don’t necessarily need to be in crisis to seek support. Many people use their sessions to speak about rough patches they may be experiencing, or simply developing coping tools to better navigate a short-term period of stress. What you share stays confidential, and Someone Health’s psychologists meet the same professional standards you’d expect anywhere in Australia.

How much will you pay?

With a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral, Medicare pays a rebate towards each session. However, the rebate alone doesn’t guarantee a free session:

• Bulk billing

  $0

  The psychologist accepts the Medicare rebate as full payment, with no out-of-pocket cost to you. This is what Someone Health offers Medicare-eligible clients with a valid referral and plan.

• A gap fee

  $50–$100+

  The psychologist charges above the rebate and you cover the difference. This figure can sometimes sit between $50 to $100 or more per session.

This is why bulk-billing care exists. Someone Health bulk bills Medicare-eligible clients with a valid referral and plan, with no gap fee and no concession card required.

Can you get more than 10 subsidised sessions?

The standard limit is up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year. Getting there depends on your GP’s referral: your psychologist sends you back for a review after your first 6 sessions, and your GP’s letter sets how many further sessions you can claim, up to the annual limit of 10. If your GP’s letter doesn’t specify a number, your psychologist can apply their own clinical judgement once they’ve made a documented attempt to confirm it with your GP and had no response. After you have used your 10-session allocation, funding options available to you include:

• Self-funded sessions: you can still continue sessions with your regular psychologist by paying privately.
• Private health extras cover.
• Pathways such as NDIS, DVA, or WorkCover if they apply to you.

The benefits of using your 10 subsidised psychology sessions

• Early intervention tends to lead to better outcomes, rather than waiting until a situation reaches a crisis point.
• The scheme removes the two biggest barriers to seeking help: cost and access.
• Pairing it with a bulk-billing telehealth provider like Someone Health helps with both. There's no session fee for bulk-billed sessions, and no need to find a local clinic near you.

Frequently asked questions