If you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) prepared by your GP, psychiatrist, or paediatrician, you may be eligible for a Medicare rebate for individual psychology sessions.

Referral Requirements

Your initial referral usually covers six sessions and is valid for 12 months. After your sixth session, your referring doctor will need to review your progress before further sessions can be accessed. To avoid delays, it’s a good idea to book your review appointment after your fifth session.

To be eligible for Medicare rebates, your referral letter should include:

• Your full name, date of birth, and address
• A diagnosis or presenting concern
• The number of sessions requested (usually six)
• A note confirming the referral is under a Mental Health Treatment Plan

Your GP can use their preferred format. Learn more at Mental Health Care Plans – Allied health referrals for mental health care plans.

Medicare Safety Net

If your out-of-pocket expenses reach a certain threshold during the calendar year, you may be eligible for higher rebates through the Medicare Safety Net.

• Individuals are automatically registered
• Families and couples need to register together to be counted as a group

You can find more information or register via Medicare Safety Nets – Services Australia.

Claiming and Private Fees

Light Blue Psychology is not a bulk-billing practice, so there will be an out-of-pocket cost for sessions. After each session, you will receive an invoice that can be submitted to Medicare for your rebate.

Please note:

• Medicare and private health insurance cannot be used for the same session
• Sessions beyond the 10 annual Medicare limit are privately billed and may be claimable through private insurance (depending on your policy)

If you’re looking for support with no out-of-pocket cost, your GP may be able to recommend services that offer bulk billing or more affordable options.

Last updated: June 2025