What do I need to book my first Medicare session?
You need 3 things before you can claim a Medicare rebate - a valid Medicare card, a Mental Health Plan from your GP and a referral from your GP before your first session.
You are entitled to 10 rebated sessions per calendar year, but your first referral will provide you access for just 6 rebated therapy sessions, you'll then be required to have a check-in with your GP to get access to the other 4 sessions.
After each session we will process your Medicare claim for you and your rebate will be paid directly back into your bank account.
If you would rather see a therapist without Medicare you can simply book a session with any of our therapists now.
Can I see a GP Online?
Yes, you can book an bulk-billed appointment with our . They will prepare a Mental Health Plan and referral for you and then send your documents directly to Talked, so you don't need to worry about anything else.
Once we've received your referral from the GP, we will notify you by email and your rebates will be processed for you after each therapy session.
How can I get a Mental Health Plan and referral from my GP?
The easiest way is to who will prepare a mental health plan and referral for you and send them directly to Talked, so you don't need to worry about anything else.
You may also book an appointment with your own GP, and then either upload your documents to Talked yourself or ask your GP to send them to referrals@talked.com.au.
During the appointment your GP will ask you a series of questions about your mental health, often they will use either a K10 or DASS-21 assessment tool, which helps them gauge your level of distress.
They will ask you questions such as "about how often do you feel nervous?". Answer these questions the best that you can, there is no wrong or right answer, your GP is simply trying to understand your situation.
After the assessment your GP will produce 2 documents:
- a mental health plan which will include your results and the recommendation to see a psychologist
- and a referral for 6 therapy sessions
Your GP will either email you the documents, print them out or send them directly to us.
Your GP can make your referral out to "Talked Therapy", which will allow you to book a session with any of our psychologists and social workers.
How do I select a psychologist for my referral?
During your GP appointment you can let them know that you have found a therapist on Talked and they can make your referral out to "Talked Therapy".
Even if there is a specific therapist listed on your referral you can still get Medicare rebates when you book with a different therapist. Your referral can be used with any of our therapists so find the right one for you. You may also switch therapists at any point without the need for a new referral.
If you already have a referral for a different psychologist or service you can still use that referral to get a rebate with any of our psychologists and social workers, you do not need to get a new referral.
Once you have your referral you can upload it to your Talked account after you've booked an appointment.
Do I still need to pay for the session?
Yes, once you've found the therapist you would like to see you will need to pay for your session upfront. We will then process your Medicare claim for you and you'll be paid the rebated amount directly back into your bank account.
If you are looking for bulk billing sessions please get in touch with us to see if we can accomodate you.
Does my referral or Mental Health Plan expire?
No, neither of these documents expire, however you are only entitled to 10 rebated sessions per calendar year.
As long as you haven't used all the sessions specified on your referral, then you may upload it to your Talked account and book a session with any of our psychologists.
Will you process my Medicare claim for me?
Yes, after each session we will process your Medicare claim for you and you'll be paid the rebate amount back into your bank account a few days later.
You must ensure that your Mental Health Plan and referral are all still valid or Medicare will not accept your claim.
