The short answer
How bulk billing works
When a psychologist bulk bills, they accept the Medicare rebate as full payment, so you pay nothing for the session. When they don't, you pay their fee and Medicare refunds part of it. The difference is your gap. You need a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral for either. At MeHelp, eligible clients are bulk billed, so there's no gap.
A look inside
From the guide
Three ways to pay
Bulk billed, gap or private
With a valid plan and referral, there are two ways a Medicare session can be billed. Without one, you pay privately.
Bulk billed
You pay $0
The psychologist claims the rebate from Medicare and accepts it as the full fee.
Gap fee
You pay the difference
You pay the fee, Medicare refunds the rebate, and the rest is your out-of-pocket cost.
Private
You pay the full fee
No plan or referral needed, and no Medicare rebate. Private health extras may help.
A worked example
| Registered psychologist | Clinical psychologist | |
|---|---|---|
| Example fee | $250 | $250 |
| Medicare rebate | $101.55 | $149.05 |
| Your gap | $148.45 | $100.95 |
Example fees only. The Australian Psychological Society suggests $330 for a standard session in 2026–27, but every psychologist sets their own fee.
Common questions
What people ask
Is bulk-billed psychology free?
There's no out-of-pocket cost to you. Medicare pays the psychologist the rebate, which the psychologist accepts as the full fee. That's how MeHelp sessions work with a valid plan and referral.
Why don't all psychologists bulk bill?
The rebate is often lower than the cost of providing a session, so many practices charge a gap. It's each practice's decision.
Did the 2025 bulk billing incentives cover psychologists?
No. The bulk billing incentives that expanded in November 2025 apply to GP appointments, not psychology sessions.
Can my private health fund pay the gap?
No. By law, private health insurance can't cover the gap on a Medicare-rebated session. You can use extras for sessions you pay for privately.
Does a bulk-billed session count toward my 10 sessions?
Yes. Every Better Access session counts toward your 10, however it's billed.
Evidence
Sources we checked
- Out-of-pocket costs, Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
- Medicare Safety Nets thresholds, Services Australia
- What it costs, Australian Psychological Society
- Evaluation of the Better Access initiative, executive summary (2022)
- Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program
Last reviewed 21 October 2026 by Phillipa Brown, registered psychologist and founder of MeHelp. This page is general information, not individual advice.
