Psychology Fees in Melbourne: Medicare Rebates & Private Health Cover

FAQ’s about Fees, Medicare and Private Health Insurance

• How much is a therapy session at Three Seas?

          Our fees are as follows:

• General Psychologists:

  • Individual appointments: $240 – $295 ($138.45 – $193.45 out of pocket)

  • Couples / family appointments: $265 – $320

• Clinical Psychologists:

  • Individual appointments: $285 – $340 ($135.95 – $190.95 out of pocket)

  • Couples / family appointments: $310 – $365

Please note: A few psychologists do not offer rebates for couples or family sessions.

• Counsellors:
  • Individual appointments: $135 – $205
  • Couples appointments: $160 – $230 (lowest couples rate not currently available)

• Provisional Psychologists:
  • Individual appointments: $85 – $170
  • Couples appointments: $110 – $195 (lowest couples rate not currently available)

Some psychologists may offer discounts on the above fees, typically around 30%.

If you have a health care or pension card, you may be eligible for a further discounted rate.

• Is therapy covered by Medicare?

Yes and no. Medicare will offer a rebate for 10 sessions per calendar year (January through to December) with a Mental Health Care Plan. Once you receive a Mental Health Care Plan you will be eligible for a Medicare rebate of $149.05 for a clinical psychologist and $101.55 for a general registered psychologist.

For clients who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder, additional support may be available through an Eating Disorder Treatment Plan (EDTP). An EDTP can provide access to Medicare rebates for a higher number of psychology sessions than a standard Mental Health Care Plan.

An EDTP must be issued by a GP, psychiatrist, or paediatrician and is reviewed at regular intervals to continue accessing further sessions.

Our team is happy to help you understand which referral pathway may be most appropriate for your circumstances and how to access Medicare support.

• Does my private health insurance cover therapy?

If you have private health insurance, you may be covered for psychological services. More than 40 health funds will offer a rebate for psychological services; however, this will be dependent on the type of cover you have. Please contact your health fund to confirm if you are unsure of your cover.

• Am I eligible for a Medicare rebate?

The Medicare rebate is dependent on receiving a Mental Health Care plan. If you want to be eligible for the Medicare rebate you will need to make an appointment with your GP who will assess your eligibility for a Mental Health Care plan. You can also make an appointment to get a MHCP from a psychiatrist or a paediatrician. Please note that if you don’t need a Medicare rebate or a Mental Health Care Plan, you can book directly with The Three Seas & do not need a referral.

• How much do psychological tests / assessments cost?

The Three Seas offer comprehensive cognitive assessments for children & adolescents, specifically the WISC-V & WPPSI-IV (read more about these here). The total fee for this assessment is $1000. This includes the fee for three sessions, including assessment & report.

• Does the Three Seas offer bulk billing?

The Three Seas currently does not offer bulk billing.

• Does The Three Seas offer third-party billings?

The Three Seas accepts NDIS (self- or plan-managed), TAC, Worksafe, FAS and DVA clients. We also have EAP agreements in place for several Melbourne companies. Please note that a gap payment may be required for NDIS, Worksafe and VOCAT clients.

• What is your cancellation policy?

Your appointment time is reserved for you. If for some reason you need to cancel or postpone your appointment, we require at least 48 hours (to the hour) notice. Appointments cancelled or rescheduled less than 24 – 48 hours will incur 50% of the appointment fee. Appointments cancelled or rescheduled within less than 24 hours will incur 100% of the appointment fee. Please be aware that cancellation and rescheduling fees are NOT rebatable through Medicare.

An appointment reminder is sent out via text, 72 hours prior to your appointment. This is a courtesy text message, and you should not solely rely on this due to it being sent through an automatic system. All appointment changes are to be made via phone or email. A voicemail can be left on our system after hours or over the weekend.

• How do I book?

Bookings can be made online through our booking portal here. Alternatively, you can call the client connect team on 03 9809 1000 or pop us an e-mail by filing in the form. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Do I need to pay a deposit?

• A 50% deposit is required to book (or confirm for online bookings) appointments for new clients only.
• Payment over the phone is preferred, but can also be completed online or via bank transfer.
• The amount may differ slightly for assessment bookings (i.e. some assessments require sessions to be prepaid). CCTeam discusses this in the intake call.
• If appointments are cancelled or rescheduled outside 48 hours, the deposit can be refunded or applied to another appointment.
• Cancellations / reschedulings within 48 hours or no shows mean that the deposit is forfeited. If another appointment is booked, it will require another 50% deposit.