Medicare rebates for psychology

How much is the Medicare rebate for psychology in 2026?

Medicare pays a fixed rebate for each eligible session under the Better Access initiative, which is 85% of the Medicare schedule fee for the item ^[1][2]. These are the amounts for individual, in-person sessions in consulting rooms, with fees last updated on 1 July 2026 and checked on MBS Online on 6 November 2026 ^{[1][2][3][9][10]}:

Rebates change over time, so if you're reading this well after November 2026, check the item on MBS Online or ask your provider. The rebate is only payable if you've been properly referred under a Mental Health Treatment Plan or another eligible pathway ^[5].

You can claim up to 10 individual and 10 group sessions per calendar year, and once you hit those limits, no further Medicare rebate is payable that year ^[5].

Why do clinical psychologists get a higher rebate?

Medicare funds two kinds of psychology service under Better Access, and they're paid at different rates.

• Psychological therapy can only be provided by eligible clinical psychologists. To be eligible, a psychologist must hold general registration with the Psychology Board of Australia and be endorsed by the Board to practise in clinical psychology ^[4].
• Focussed psychological strategies are provided by registered psychologists, eligible social workers, eligible occupational therapists and eligible GPs ^[4].

The minimum session lengths also differ. A clinical psychologist's shorter item starts at 30 minutes, while a registered psychologist's starts at 20 minutes ^[3].

The rebate reflects the Medicare item, not a rating of the individual practitioner. When choosing someone, it's worth weighing their experience with what you're dealing with, their availability and how comfortable you feel with them, as well as the cost.

Do telehealth psychology sessions get the same rebate?

Yes. Individual sessions by video or phone attract the same rebate as the matching in-person items ^[3]. For example:

Telehealth sessions count towards the same yearly limits as in-person sessions ^[11]. You still need a valid plan and referral, and the rules about who can write your plan apply however your sessions are delivered ^[8].

What about group sessions?

Group therapy sessions are for groups of 4 to 10 people and must run for at least 60 minutes ^[3][4]. From 1 July 2026, the rebate per person is $37.85 for a group run by a clinical psychologist (item 80020) and $25.90 for a group run by a registered psychologist (item 80120) ^[3].

You can claim up to 10 group sessions a calendar year, on top of your 10 individual sessions ^[5]. Group sessions by video are only rebated if you're in a rural or remote area (Modified Monash Model 4 to 7) and at least 15 km by road from the provider ^[4][11].

What is the gap fee?

The gap is the difference between what your provider charges and what Medicare pays back ^[7]. Providers are free to set their own fees and don't have to bulk bill ^[7]. Anything above the Medicare rebate is your responsibility ^[5].

Here's how the maths works, using a made-up fee for illustration only. Say a registered psychologist charges $220 for a 50-minute session:

• Fee: $220.00
• Medicare rebate (item 80110): $101.55
• Your gap: $118.45 per session
• Over 10 sessions: $1,184.50, before any Safety Net benefit

If a provider bulk bills a session, they accept the rebate as full payment and there's no gap. Before your first session, it's worth asking:

• what their fee is for the session length you'll have
• whether they bulk bill, and in what situations
• what you'll pay out of pocket after the rebate
• whether they charge for late cancellations

Does the Medicare Safety Net help with psychology costs?

It can, especially if you have other out-of-hospital medical costs in the same calendar year. Out-of-pocket costs for Better Access sessions count towards the Medicare Safety Net ^[5].

There are two Safety Nets, with thresholds indexed each 1 January ^[6]:

• Original Medicare Safety Net. Once the gaps between the Medicare rebate and the schedule fee add up to $594.40 in 2026, Medicare pays 100% of the schedule fee instead of 85% ^[6].
• Extended Medicare Safety Net. Once your out-of-pocket costs pass the 2026 threshold, Medicare pays back up to 80% of further out-of-pocket costs for the rest of the year ^[6]. The threshold is $861.20 for concession card holders and families receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A, and $2,699.10 for everyone else ^[6].

Psychology items have an Extended Medicare Safety Net cap, which limits the extra benefit per session. For example, the cap is $358.35 for item 80110 and $500.00 for item 80010 ^[1][2]. You get back 80% of your out-of-pocket cost or the cap, whichever is lower ^[6].

Individuals are registered for the Safety Nets automatically. Families and couples need to register to have their costs combined ^[6].

Can you use private health insurance instead?

You can use private health extras for psychology, but not on top of Medicare for the same session. You need to choose one or the other, and you can't use extras to top up the Medicare rebate ^[5].

If you've used all your Medicare-rebated sessions for the year and your extras cover psychology, you may be able to claim further sessions from your fund. What you get back depends on your level of cover ^[5]. Extras can also be an option if you can't get a Medicare-eligible referral. Check with your fund what's covered and any annual limits.

What do you need to claim the rebate?

To claim a Medicare rebate for psychology sessions, you need:

• a Mental Health Treatment Plan from a GP, a Psychiatrist Assessment and Management Plan, or a direct referral from a psychiatrist or paediatrician ^[5]
• a written referral, which your provider must have by your first session ^[3]
• since 1 November 2025, if your plan is from a GP, the plan and referral must come from the practice you're registered with through MyMedicare or from your usual medical practitioner ^[8]

Our mental health care plan guide explains how this works, including the telehealth rules and what to do if you don't have a regular GP.

How do you check how many sessions you have left?

Call Medicare on 132 011, or check your care plan history in your Medicare online account through myGov ^[5]. You can also ask your provider ^[7].

Getting help

If you're not sure where to start, a GP can assess what's going on and talk you through your options, including psychology and what Medicare covers in your situation. You can book a mental health assessment by video with one of our GPs through our appointment request form.

If you're in crisis or thinking about suicide, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 000 in an emergency. See our urgent help page for more services.

This page is general information, not medical advice.