One of the most common questions people ask when booking a psychology appointment is: “Do I need a referral?”
The short answer is: no, you do not need a referral to see a psychologist privately.
You can book an appointment with a psychologist and pay privately without seeing your GP first. This can be a good option if you would like to start therapy sooner, prefer not to go through Medicare, have already used your available Medicare-rebated sessions, or would like to continue therapy beyond the number of sessions covered by a referral.
Referrals can still be helpful, which is where the confusion often starts. Because people often hear about being “referred to a psychologist”, it can sound as though a referral is required before you are allowed to make an appointment.
That is not the case.
You do not need a referral or special permission to see a psychologist privately. If there is availability and the psychologist is an appropriate match for your needs, you can book without a referral.
What a referral may do is allow you to claim a Medicare rebate for eligible psychology sessions.
Seeing a psychologist privately
If you choose to attend as a private client, you do not need a GP referral, psychiatrist referral, paediatrician referral or Mental Health Treatment Plan.
This means you can contact The Victorian Psychology Clinic directly to enquire about appointments. Our Client Relations Team can help you understand availability and match you with a psychologist based on your needs, preferences, age and appointment options.
Private psychology appointments may be suitable if you:
- Do not have a current referral;
- Would prefer not to access Medicare rebates;
- Would like to begin therapy while waiting to see your GP;
- Have used your Medicare-rebated sessions for the calendar year;
- Would like to continue therapy after your Medicare-rebated sessions have ended;
- Intend to claim through private health insurance, if your policy includes psychology cover.
Using a referral for Medicare rebates
A referral does not determine whether you are allowed to see a psychologist. Rather, in many cases, it allows you to claim a Medicare rebate for eligible psychology sessions.
Common Medicare referral pathways may include:
- A Mental Health Treatment Plan, sometimes called a Mental Health Care Plan, from a GP;
- A referral from a psychiatrist or paediatrician;
- An Eating Disorder Treatment and Management Plan;
- Referrals related to complex neurodevelopmental conditions or eligible disabilities;
- A GP Chronic Condition Management Plan, where psychology or allied health services are relevant;
- Pregnancy support counselling, where eligible.
The type of referral needed depends on your circumstances, eligibility and the Medicare item being used. Your GP, psychiatrist, paediatrician or other treating medical practitioner is the best person to advise which referral pathway is appropriate for you.
Mental Health Treatment Plans and the 10-session limit
Many clients access psychology through a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
Under this pathway, eligible clients may be able to claim Medicare rebates for up to 10 individual psychology sessions per calendar year.
It is common for a GP to refer for an initial course of up to 6 sessions first. After those sessions, your GP may review your progress and, if appropriate, provide a further referral for the remaining sessions, up to the calendar-year limit.
It is important to know that the Medicare session limit does not necessarily reflect how much therapy a person may need.
Some people attend for a short period and find that a limited number of sessions is enough. Others may benefit from longer-term or more regular support.
If your Medicare-rebated sessions run out, you can still continue seeing your psychologist privately if you wish to do so.
Why we do not bulk bill
The Victorian Psychology Clinic is a private psychology clinic and does not bulk bill.
We understand that the cost of therapy can be a significant consideration, and we would like psychological care to be as accessible as possible. However, Medicare rebates do not cover the full cost of providing high-quality psychology services in a private clinic setting.
Our fees allow us to maintain experienced clinicians, safe and comfortable consulting rooms, professional systems, administrative support, clinical governance, and the time required for ethical and compliant care.
This means clients pay the appointment fee, and where a valid Medicare referral is in place, a Medicare rebate may be processed after the appointment. Medicare rebates usually cover part of the fee, rather than the full cost.
Our Client Relations Team can provide current fee and rebate information when you enquire or book.
Medicare rebates and private health insurance
Medicare and private health insurance are different systems.
A Medicare rebate is a government rebate available when you meet the requirements for a relevant Medicare item. This usually means you need a valid referral and must be eligible for the service being claimed.
Private health insurance is cover you may have through a private health fund. Some extras policies include psychology benefits, but the amount and rules vary depending on your insurer and level of cover.
In general, you cannot claim both a Medicare rebate and a private health insurance benefit for the same psychology appointment.
If you are eligible for both, you may wish to compare your Medicare rebate with your private health fund benefit and choose which option is best for that appointment.
How Medicare claiming works at VPC
If you attend VPC with a valid Medicare referral and are eligible for a rebate, you do not need to lodge the Medicare claim yourself.
VPC can process the Medicare rebate for you after your appointment, provided we have the required referral information and Medicare details.
How private health insurance claiming works at VPC
VPC does not process private health insurance claims on the spot in the way some dental or allied health clinics might.
If you wish to claim through private health insurance, you will usually need to pay for the appointment and then submit your receipt directly to your health fund.
If you are considering using private health insurance, we recommend checking directly with your health fund before your appointment to confirm whether psychology is included, what rebate may apply, and whether any limits or waiting periods apply.
You generally cannot claim both Medicare and private health insurance for the same appointment, so it is worth checking which option gives you the most suitable rebate.
Can I start privately and get a referral later?
Yes. Some clients begin privately and then later obtain a referral from their GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician if they would like to access Medicare rebates and are eligible.
Other clients use their Medicare-rebated sessions first and then continue privately once those sessions have been used.
You are not restricted from seeing a psychologist simply because you do not have a referral.
Still unsure what applies to you?
You do not need a referral to see a psychologist privately at The Victorian Psychology Clinic.
A referral may allow you to claim Medicare rebates if you are eligible, but it is not required to begin therapy as a private client. If you would like to access Medicare rebates, your GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician can advise which referral pathway may be most appropriate.
We also know this area can be genuinely confusing. Medicare referrals, Mental Health Treatment Plans, private fees, rebates and private health insurance can take a little while to understand.
Please do not feel that you need to have all of this worked out before getting in touch.
Our Client Relations Team is happy to talk this through with you, answer your questions, and explain how appointments work at VPC, including private fees, Medicare rebates, private health claiming and what referral information we need if you are planning to claim through Medicare.
