Claiming mental health treatment with St. Lukes health insurance

Many families from Tasmania have relied on St. Lukes for their health coverage needs. More than just a health insurer, St. Lukes has evolved into a true community partner, offering everything from local wellness hubs and a digital wellbeing platform to corporate health programs and comprehensive Extras cover.

At the heart of this commitment is a growing focus on holistic health, and that includes mental wellbeing. If you're a St.  Lukes member wondering how your policy supports mental health care, this guide has everything you need to know.

Table of contents

• Does St. Lukes health insurance cover online psychology?

• What exactly does St. Lukes cover under mental health care?

• How to claim psychology sessions with St. Lukes health insurance?

• When should you lodge your claim?

• Can you claim the same session through both St. Lukes and Medicare?

• How to find a St. Lukes-recognised mental health professional?

• Take ownership of your mental health with St. Lukes and Talked

Does St. Lukes health insurance cover online psychology?

With Extras cover, yes, St. Lukes does cover online as well as in-person psychology with registered clinical psychologists. 

The demand for online therapy and counselling has steadily increased over the years, and many insurance providers like St. Lukes have recognised this. Note, however, that waiting periods apply to new and updated St. Lukes policies, so be sure to check your policy before booking any health service.

You can verify the inclusions and terms of your policy via the St. Lukes Connect app, or you may call their customer care on 1300 651 988 from Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

What exactly does St. Lukes cover under mental health care?

St. Lukes covers mental health sessions with recognised psychologists, counsellors, and mental health social workers. Services from these three professional types have a shared annual limit, so it’s up to you to choose whom to work with.

Note, however, that per-session maximum benefits differ between practitioner type and Extras type. Here’s an overview, but be sure to double-check the St. Lukes website for accurate information.

Maximum benefits per mental health treatment session using St. Lukes Extras:

Note that under psychology, St. Lukes only honours sessions with registered clinical psychologists. Thankfully, it’s easy to find clinical psychologists you can trust here on Talked.

All psychologists on Talked are AHPRA-registered and eligible for St. Lukes claims and other insurance policy claims. To make the process even more convenient, after every session, Talked will provide you with an invoice that contains all the information your insurer needs to process your claim and issue your rebate.

How to claim psychology sessions with St. Lukes health insurance?

Once you’ve paid for and completed a session, Talked will provide your invoice. You can then save this invoice as a PDF or an image, then submit it to St. Lukes via any of the following methods:

• Submit directly via St. Lukes Connect app for fast processing.

• Visit the nearest St. Lukes customer care centre.

• Post your invoice, together with a completed claim form or Benefit Deposit Request Form to St. Lukes Claims Department, PO Box 915, Launceston, TAS 7250.

• If your psychologist uses HICAPS, you can swipe your member card before or after your session. Only the gap free will be charged to you.

When should you lodge your claim?

It’s recommended to lodge your claim as soon as possible after the session. Doing so ensures it falls within your current benefit year and helps you avoid processing delays.

Note that a 12-month waiting period usually applies to psychology and counselling services from the time you start or upgrade your policy. Ensure this has been served before trying to claim.

Can you claim the same session through both St. Lukes and Medicare?

No. You cannot claim the same psychology session through both Medicare and private health insurance. This applies across all Australian insurers.

However, to maximise both your St. Lukes Extras and Medicare benefits, you can:

• Start with Medicare using a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP (up to 10 sessions per calendar year)

• Switch to your St. Lukes Extras cover once your Medicare sessions are used up

To access Medicare sessions, you need to be referred by a GP, psychiatrist, or paediatrician. Talked can help connect you with a GP if you need a Mental Health Treatment Plan.

How to find a St. Lukes-recognised mental health professional?

St. Lukes allows you to choose your own therapist, as long as they meet eligibility requirements. That means:

• Psychologists must be registered with AHPRA

• Counsellors must meet qualification and accreditation standards

• Social workers must be approved to provide mental health services

To simplify this, all psychologists and counsellors listed on Talked meet these requirements. You won’t have to worry about eligibility checks as every practitioner is vetted for private health claims as well as Medicare.

Take ownership of your mental health with St. Lukes and Talked

Booking your mental health support through Talked makes the claiming process with St. Lukes straightforward. After each session, you’ll receive a compliant invoice that includes:

• Your provider’s details and registration number

• Patient name and service description

• Service date and total fee

You can upload this directly to the St. Lukes app or portal, or submit it via email or mail. If your psychologist offers HICAPS, you may be able to claim on the spot.

Whether you’re accessing support for anxiety, stress, relationship issues or general wellbeing, Talked’s platform helps you connect with the right practitioner file claims without any hassle.

Not with St. Lukes? Don't worry, we have your back. After you see your therapist, claim your mental health rebate from Bupa, ahm, Medibank, Police Health, CUA Health, Doctors Health, nib, HBF, HCF, CBHS Health, Australian Unity, GMHBA, Westfund, Peoplecare, GU Health, Union Health, Phoenix Health, Teachers Health, UniHealth, Nurses & Midwives Health, and many more private health insurers.