How can health insurance support my mental health? 

Around one in 5 Aussies will experience a mental health condition every year, so if your mental health isn’t as great as you’d like it to be, you’re not alone and there is lots of support out there for you. 

When it comes to support for mental health, Private Health Insurance can help you get the care you need from healthcare professionals. 

Getting a Medicare mental health plan

If you need to see a doctor for a mental health condition, and it isn’t an emergency, an appointment with your GP is a good place to start. Your GP may bulk bill, which means the cost of the consultation will be covered by Medicare, but if they don’t, you’ll need to pay at least some of the consultation fee.  

If your doctor thinks you’d benefit from sessions with a psychologist, they might create a Mental Health Treatment Plan, which means Medicare will pay for up to 10 psychologist sessions for you. Keep in mind that if the psychologist charges more than what Medicare will cover, you’ll need to pay the rest, so make sure you ask the psychology practice how payment will work. 

Health insurance for mental health under Extras Cover 

Depending on your policy, Extras Cover may include the cost of psychologist sessions and if you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan, Extras Cover may reimburse you for the portion of the fee not covered by Medicare. However limits and waiting periods may apply. To be eligible for health insurance claims, psychologists need to be registered in their state or territory and be a member of a professional organisation, and some insurers will only accept claims through psychologists they have deemed to be recognised providers.  

If your Extras policy includes cover for Healthy Living, you may be eligible for programs and therapies that could support your mental health, such as stress management courses.  

What’s the difference between Extras Cover and Hospital Cover? 

Psychiatric treatment and Private Health Insurance 

If you are admitted to a public hospital for mental health treatment, Medicare will cover you for these costs. However if you have Hospital Cover, you may choose to seek treatment in a private hospital, where you can choose your own doctor.  

Psychiatric treatment in a private hospital is covered on every tier of Hospital Cover, meaning you can receive treatment for drug and alcohol rehabilitation, or psychiatric, mental or behavioural disorders in a private hospital or facility. But if you have Basic, Bronze or Silver policies, the level of cover may be ‘restricted’, meaning you may have large out-of-pocket costs.  

The good news is that if you have already been diagnosed with a mental health condition, the waiting periods for psychiatric treatment are much shorter than they are for many other pre-existing conditions. If you start a new Hospital Cover policy or upgrade from a lower tier of cover, you’ll only have to wait 2 months before you’re eligible to claim on psychiatric care in a private hospital. In some cases, you may be able to get an exemption from this waiting period so talk to your health insurer if you need psychiatric hospitalisation sooner. 

Other ways health insurance supports your mental health 

In addition, many health insurers offer members access to mental health support programs. For example, HCF members are covered for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) courses through This Way Up while nib has a Mental Health Care Support Program where mental health nurses offer one-on-one support to members via phone consultations. Visit your health insurer’s website or give them a call to find out what’s available.  

How to find the best Private Health Insurance for mental health 

Using the healthslips.com.au Calculator is the easiest way to find Hospital Cover and Extras Cover to find the best health insurance for mental health that meets your needs and your budget. Our Calculator compares all health insurance policies available without any bias, so you can find the best policy for you. Check the policy conditions carefully to make sure the level of mental health support you need is included, and find out the limits, waiting periods and conditions that apply. 

If you need extra support 

For mental health support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. In an emergency situation, call 000. 

Trudie McConnochie

Writer and Researcher

Knowledge is power – that’s the guiding principle behind everything Trudie writes, and it’s a philosophy she brings to her work at healthslips.com.au. By breaking down complex information into easy-to-understand blogs and stories, she aims to empower Australians to make the best choices and an informed decision around private health insurance.

Trudie understands firsthand some of the complexity of private health insurance having moved to Australia from New Zealand and having to navigate a vastly different public healthcare system and health insurance structure.

Trudie holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies (journalism major) from the Auckland University of Technology.

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