Medicare and Mental Health: What Is Covered
Medicare mental health support helps make care more affordable, but it does not work as a single free service. Instead, Medicare provides rebates and subsidised sessions through several programs, the best known being the Better Access initiative. The Australian Government Department of Health explains that Better Access subsidises sessions with GPs, psychologists, and other mental health professionals for eligible people.
Understanding what Medicare covers, and what it does not, helps you plan and avoid unexpected costs when you reach out for support.
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Better Access is the main pathway for subsidised psychological care. Through it, eligible people can receive a Medicare rebate for a set number of individual sessions with a registered psychologist or other approved professional each calendar year. The rebate reduces the cost of each session, and where a provider bulk bills, there is no gap to pay.
The number of subsidised sessions and the rebate amount are set by the Australian Government and can change, so it is worth checking the current figures rather than relying on an old number.
To access Better Access sessions, you usually need a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP. The plan is the referral pathway that unlocks the Medicare rebate for psychology. Your GP assesses your needs, prepares the plan with you, and refers you to a suitable professional. Our full guide explains how to get a Mental Health Care Plan online, and you can read about finding a bulk billed psychologist once your plan is in place.
When a provider bulk bills, they charge only the Medicare rebate, so there is no out of pocket cost. When they do not, you pay the difference between their fee and the rebate, known as the gap fee. The rebate is a fixed amount set by the Australian Government, so a higher provider fee means a larger gap. Services Australia publishes the current rebate amounts.
Medicare does not cover everything. Group programs, some types of counselling, and sessions beyond your subsidised allocation for the year may not attract a rebate. Private health insurance, employee assistance programs, and community services can sometimes fill these gaps. Knowing the limits in advance means fewer surprises.
If cost is a barrier, tell your GP. There are often bulk billing options, community services, and low cost pathways that are not obvious from the outside.
Take the first step toward subsidised support.
Medicare subsidised telehealth has made mental health care far more reachable, particularly for people in rural and remote areas, those without transport, and anyone who finds a video or phone session easier than travelling. Eligible GP mental health consultations and many psychology sessions can be delivered by telehealth under Medicare, with eligibility rules that your clinician can explain.
For many people, removing the trip to a clinic removes the single biggest barrier to starting care.
An Abby GP can assess you, prepare a Mental Health Care Plan where appropriate, and refer you on so you can access subsidised sessions. Bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card. Strict eligibility criteria apply. You can book an appointment to begin, or start with our guide to the Mental Health Care Plan.
If you are in crisis, call 000, or contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, or 13YARN on 13 92 76 at any time.
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The information reflects guidance available as of the "last updated" date shown above. Medical knowledge evolves, and individual circumstances vary — always discuss decisions about your care with a qualified clinician.
In an emergency, call 000 or attend your nearest emergency department. Abby Health is not an emergency service. For mental health crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
If you have feedback or believe any information in this article requires correction, please contact our editorial team at support@abbyhealth.app. Abby Health complies with AHPRA advertising standards and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.
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