What does mental health support cost in Australia?

Working out what mental health support costs in Australia is harder than it should be. Different professions, different MBS items, different rebate amounts and a lot of private gap fees. This article walks through the actual structure as it stands in 2026, so you can plan with eyes open.

GP Mental Health Treatment Plan

Your GP is the gateway. A GP Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) is a structured assessment and care plan; it unlocks Medicare-rebated psychology under Better Access (up to 10 sessions per calendar year) and is the first step before specialist psychiatry referral. Many GPs bulk-bill MHTPs; some charge a gap. Your GP will be transparent about their fee.

Psychology under Better Access

Under Better Access, Medicare rebates 10 individual psychology sessions per calendar year with a current MHTP. Clinical psychologists attract a higher rebate than general registered psychologists; the rebate amount is set by the MBS and adjusts periodically. Many psychologists charge above the rebate, meaning a gap (out-of-pocket) of anywhere from $0 to $150+ per session depending on the clinician. Some are fully bulk-billed, particularly those working in community mental health services.

Psychiatry under Medicare

Psychiatry is specialist medical care. With a valid GP referral, Medicare rebates apply to specialist psychiatric consultations. Item numbers and rebate amounts are set out on MBS Online. Two items worth flagging:

MBS item 291 — comprehensive psychiatric assessment

Item 291 covers an initial comprehensive new-patient assessment by a psychiatrist, with a written management plan returned to the referring GP. The rebate for item 291 is substantially higher than standard psychiatry items, reflecting the depth of the assessment. It is generally used for a structured first assessment and discharges most of the up-front Medicare benefit in one consultation.

Standard psychiatry items

Follow-up and standard new-patient psychiatry items (e.g. items 296, 300, 302, 304, 306, 308) have their own rebates depending on consultation length. Your psychiatrist will explain which item applies and what the rebate is at the time of your appointment.

Does telepsychiatry attract the same rebates?

Yes. Following the permanent changes to MBS telehealth, telepsychiatry attracts the same Medicare rebates as in-person psychiatric consultations, provided the eligibility rules are met.

What you actually pay

Australian private psychiatry typically operates on a fee-for-service model. The clinic sets a private fee (which may differ from the Medicare schedule fee), you pay the full fee at the time of the appointment, and Medicare rebates the schedule amount into your nominated account. The gap is the difference. Some services bulk-bill specific groups (concession card holders, regional patients) or specific item numbers — clinic policy varies.

For SetMind's current fees and what you'll pay out of pocket after the Medicare rebate, see our fees page — it has the up-to-date figures for each consultation type.

Private health insurance

Private health (extras) does not generally rebate Medicare-eligible psychiatric consultations — these are funded through Medicare, not private health. Extras cover for psychology varies by fund and policy. For inpatient psychiatric admissions, hospital cover (with appropriate waiting periods served) applies.