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Anxiety over how Medicare works

RedJam88
Community Member
I am finally seeking help for my anxiety and depression. I think I need to go speak with a doctor about it.

But something that always gets me anxious is that I don't really how Medicare works. I barely go see the doctor in general, let alone someone who can help with mental illness.

Can someone please explain to me how medicare works? What does it cover? How much do I have to pay the doctor? Im anxious that it's going to cost me lots.
3 Replies 3

JessF
Valued Contributor
Valued Contributor

Hello Redjam, it depends on which GP you go and see. Medicare will pay for part of, and in some cases, all of the cost of seeing a GP. For Medicare to cover all of the cost, you need to see a doctor who bulk bills. You can find out if a clinic is a bulk billing clinic by ringing around and asking, or doing some research online. There are links to directories of health professionals on this website.  For the non bulk billing GPs, I believe you can expect to pay at least $30 to see one for a 15 minute consultation.

A GP can write you up something called a mental health care plan, which provides you access to a certain number of subsidised sessions with a psychologist (I can't remember exactly how many it is these days, someone else may know, I think it's six or ten per year). Again, Medicare will pay perhaps half of each session, meaning it should end up costing you in the region of $70. There are also bulk billing psychologists, but these are much harder to find than GPs.

The bb helpling will probably have more reliable information and may have some ideas of who you can see as well because you will be able to tell them where you live.

RedJam88
Community Member
Perfect! Thank you so much. I don't know why I've worried about it for so long.

I'll definitely check out the BB resources, and enquire when I call through the outline.

Yor

Sorry, sent before I finished typing.

Your assistance has been greatly appreciated.