Your Mental Health Treatment Plan

Learn how to access a Mental Health Treatment Plan online and unlock Medicare rebates for your Talked sessions.

How a Mental Health Treatment Plan works

A Mental Health Treatment Plan (formerly called a Mental Health Care Plan) is a plan prepared by a GP that allows you to access up to 10 Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions each year. Medicare pays a fixed amount toward each session, which reduces your out-of-pocket cost.

Your plan will outline what you're struggling with and what type of support you may need, which is shared with your psychologist to tailor your sessions.

At Talked, we make the process of getting a MHTP and referral simple by connecting you with a bulk billed GP who can prepare you a Mental Health Plan and refer you to a Talked psychologist.

Get a MHTP online now

Eligibility & requirements

If you’re an Australian citizen or permanent resident with an active Medicare card, you can speak with a GP about getting a Mental Health Treatment Plan. Your GP will assess whether your concerns meet Medicare criteria and, if appropriate, prepare your plan and referral.

MHTPs are commonly provided for concerns such as anxiety, depression, stress, and adjustment difficulties. A formal diagnosis isn’t required, so you don’t need to wait until things feel “serious enough” to ask for support.

To claim Medicare rebates, you’ll need a valid plan, a referral from your GP, and to see a psychologist who is registered with Medicare. We make this simple here at Talked; all psychologists on our platform are Medicare-eligible, so you can book with confidence knowing your sessions can be claimed.

Obtain a Mental Health Treatment Plan online

1. Book an online GP appointment

Schedule a telehealth appointment with your GP and let them know you'd like a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral to a psychologist. If you don't have a regular GP, you can book an online bulk billed GP appointment with Talked's GP partner.

2. Receive and upload your Medicare documents

If your GP provides an MHTP and psychologist referral, simply upload the documents to Talked. This allows us to process your Medicare rebates when you book your psychology sessions.

3. Book and attend your sessions

Choose a psychologist and session schedules that work for you. All psychologists on Talked are Medicare-eligible, so you can book with confidence that you will get rebates from each session.

4. Receive your rebate in your bank account

We will process your Medicare rebate for you after each session, allowing you to focus more on your mental health. Medicare will then deposit the rebate directly into your nominated bank account.

Book a GP Appointment

Do you need a Mental Health Treatment Plan?

Not sure if you need one or not? Our step-by-step guide will show you exactly how to claim your rebates and access affordable psychology with Talked.

Do you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan?

A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) is a document your GP creates after a mental health assessment. It’s required to access Medicare rebates for psychology sessions.

Other Medicare-supported plans that may include psychology

Your GP can advise which plan is most appropriate based on your needs.

Eating Disorder Plan (EDP)

For people diagnosed with an eligible eating disorder, an EDP can provide access to significantly more Medicare-supported psychology sessions, along with coordinated medical and dietetic care.

Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDMP)

For people living with a chronic medical condition, a CDMP can provide limited access to allied health services, which may include psychology in some cases.

Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA)

Eligible veterans and their families can access psychology sessions through DVA support, which may provide more comprehensive coverage than standard Medicare rebates.

Learn more about Medicare rebates

FAQs on Mental Health Treatment Plans

Do I need a Mental Health Treatment Plan to access therapy?Can I get a Mental Health Plan online?How do I use a Mental Health Plan on Talked?How much rebate can I claim with an MHTP?Does an MHTP give access to free therapy?How many psychology sessions does Medicare cover per year?Can I use my MHTP for counselling sessions?

Do I need a Mental Health Treatment Plan to access therapy?

No. You can see a psychologist privately without a Mental Health Treatment Plan.

However, if you would like to reduce the cost of your psychology through Medicare rebates, you will first need to obtain a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) and referral from your GP.

Can I get a Mental Health Plan online?

Yes. You can book an online, and bulk billed GP appointment with Talked's GP partner to obtain a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral.

Book GP appointment now

How do I use a Mental Health Plan on Talked?

After receiving your Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral from your GP, you can choose your psychologist on Talked and book your first session.

You can then upload your MHTP and referral to your Talked account and your Medicare rebates will be automatically processed after each session.

How much rebate can I claim with an MHTP?

Medicare provides a fixed rebate per eligible session. The current rebate is $145.25 for sessions with a clinical psychologist and $98.95 for sessions with a general psychologist.

Your out of pocket for a 50 minute psychology session is $121. Learn more about our pricing.

Does an MHTP give access to free therapy?

Medicare rebates help to reduce the cost of your psychology sessions

Bulk billed sessions do enable no out of pocket costs. If you are looking for bulk-billed sessions, please reach out to our team so we can assist you.

How many psychology sessions does Medicare cover per year?

Medicare can cover up to 10 individual psychology sessions per calendar year under a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP). Most people receive an initial referral for 6 sessions, with the option for up to 4 more after a GP review.