How to Access Medicare Rebates for Psychology

This information is a general guide only. Your GP will decide whether a Mental Health Treatment Plan is appropriate for your circumstances. Medicare rules and rebate amounts can also change over time.

Many people are eligible for Medicare rebates when seeing a psychologist, but the process can feel confusing at first.

Under the Australian Government’s Better Access initiative, eligible people with a diagnosed mental health disorder can access Medicare benefits for up to 10 individual mental health treatment sessions per calendar year.

Book a longer appointment with your GP

The first step is to book a longer appointment with your GP and let the practice know that you would like to discuss a Mental Health Treatment Plan.

During the appointment, your GP will assess your mental health, discuss your treatment needs and decide whether a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral are appropriate.

If you are eligible, you may choose your own psychologist, provided the psychologist is eligible to deliver services under the Better Access initiative.

How many sessions can you access?

The initial referral can cover up to six individual sessions.

After completing the number of sessions included in that initial course of treatment, you will need to return to your referring practitioner for a review and a new referral if further treatment is recommended. The subsequent referral can cover the remaining sessions, up to the annual limit of 10 individual sessions.

A Mental Health Treatment Plan does not automatically expire at the end of the calendar year, although the Medicare session limit resets each calendar year. A valid referral is still required for treatment.

Zoom Psychology fees and Medicare rebate

The standard Zoom Psychology session fee is $160.

As at July 2026, the Medicare benefit for an eligible video psychology session of at least 50 minutes with a registered psychologist is $101.55. This reduces the usual out-of-pocket cost to $58.45 per session.

Rebate amounts are indexed periodically, so the current figure should be checked before relying on it.

Zoom Psychology submits the claim for you

After your appointment, Zoom Psychology can submit the Medicare claim electronically on your behalf.

The rebate is then paid by Medicare into the bank account you have registered with Medicare. It will often arrive promptly, although the timing can depend on Medicare processing and whether your bank details are current.

What you need before your first appointment

Before a Medicare rebate can be claimed, Zoom Psychology must have received a valid referral from your eligible referring practitioner. Medicare benefits are not payable without the required referral arrangements being in place.

It is helpful to ask your GP practice to send the referral directly to Zoom Psychology or provide you with a copy to forward before your first session.

Final thoughts

A Mental Health Treatment Plan can make psychological support considerably more affordable, but eligibility is based on your GP’s clinical assessment rather than simply requesting a plan.

When booking your GP appointment, explain that you would like to discuss your mental health and possible access to psychology under the Better Access initiative.

For questions about using a referral with Zoom Psychology or how Medicare claiming works after an appointment, please feel free to get in touch.