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Your mental health affects how you feel, think, and behave, so taking care of it can come with huge benefits. Here’s how private health insurance can help you do that.
Before we dive into support, let’s acknowledge Australia’s mental health in a world still impacted by COVID. The 2020-2021 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing showed that:2
- Almost 50% of Australians aged 16 – 85 have had a mental disorder at some point in their life.
43% or 8.6 million people had experienced a mental disorder at some time in their life.
- 21% of Australians aged 16 – 85 had a recent or current mental disorder.
21% or 4.2 million reported a mental disorder in the 12 months leading up to the survey.
- Almost 40% of Australians aged 16 – 24 had a recent or current mental disorder.
39% reported a mental disorder in the 12 months leading up to the survey.
- Anxiety was the most common group of mental disorders.
These stats show a rise in mental health issues, especially in young people.2 They can sound scary, but the good news is that many mental health issues can be managed if you get help.
The other good news is that private health insurance
can help
cover some of the cost of mental health treatment, too.
Here’s what can be covered by private health insurance, and how it works.
Psychology and Clinical Psychology
When you get mental health treatment outside of hospital, consultations with a Psychologist or Clinical
Psychologist
can be covered by extras cover.
What can a Psychologist or Clinical Psychologist help you with?
Psychologists
and Clinical Psychologists can help manage a wide range of mental health issues such as depression, anxiety,
stress, addictions and eating disorders.
Clinical Psychologists are psychologists who have
completed specialised advanced education and supervised training in mental health. They’ve got particular
skills to help solve complex problems that require more tailored treatment.
What’s covered under private insurance?
Some levels of extras cover include cover for both Psychology and Clinical Psychology. Some include just one or the
other, and some don’t cover any psychology at all. So if you want extras cover for Psychology or Clinical
Psychology, make sure to check specifically for it.
At HBF, extras cover that includes
psychology provides benefits for individual, couple, family and group consultations.
What does HBF cover for mental health?
Find out what's included and compare cover for mental health at HBF.
Compare cover options
Can Medicare cover Psychology too?
Yes, Medicare
can cover psychology. In order to get covered, you’ll need to get an assessment from a GP first.
Medicare can help cover some of the cost of GP appointments, mental health treatment plans and support from a social
worker.
Medicare-funded mental health treatment plans include benefits for up to 10 sessions per year with a mental health
professional.
Psychiatric treatment in hospital
When hospital treatment is required for a mental health condition, hospital cover can help. HBF members in their 20s and 30s claim for hospital psychiatric treatment – which includes treatment for mental illnesses, eating disorders or addictions – significantly more than any other age group.1
What can Hospital Psychiatric Services help you with?
Hospital Psychiatric Services can help with treatment and rehabilitation for depression, eating disorders, drug and
alcohol addiction and other conditions while you’re admitted to hospital. Sometimes this could require a day
admission – but it could mean an extended stay if you require a longer course of treatment.
What’s covered under private insurance?
In Australia, all hospital insurance (besides overseas cover) is required to have some level of cover for Hospital
psychiatric services. This can be full cover or restricted cover – and the difference between them is
important.
Restricted cover means only the government-required minimum amount of benefits will be provided, and you could face
large out-of-pocket costs.
Costs of hospital treatment when you are admitted can vary a lot depending on which hospital you go to and which
specialists treat you. HBF has a large network of Member
Plus hospitals and fully covered specialists. Choosing these providers can help keep your out-of-pocket
costs to a minimum.
If you’re currently on restricted cover and want to upgrade, there’s an option to do so without facing
waiting periods.
Consult the Australian Department of Health for more information on the mental
health waiver.
Can Medicare cover Hospital psychiatric services?
Yes, Medicare
can cover you if you require hospitalisation for mental health care. It can cover treatment in a public
hospital, but you may be put on a waiting list before you can be admitted and the amount of time you are on the
waiting list can vary by state and hospital.
If you’re unsure of what your HBF policy covers, or you want to know how private health insurance could
benefit you, call us on 133 423 or visit us in an HBF branch near you.
There are also some great free services available through mental health organisations such as:
For a full list of services recommended by the government, check out the Head to Health service providers page.
If you or someone you know is struggling, you’re not alone and
there are several places you can turn to for help.
1HBF claims data, 2019-2021
2ABS –National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing
Disclaimers:
This article contains general information only and does not take into account the health, personal situation or needs of any person. In conjunction with your GP or treating health care professional, please consider whether the information is suitable for you and your personal circumstances.
- *Mental health waiver can only be used once per person per
lifetime. When you lower your excess, waiting periods for the reduced excess may also apply for
all services including Hospital psychiatric services. Waiting periods may apply for other
services not on your previous level of cover.For waiting periods that have been partly served,
you may have to serve the remainder of the applicable waiting period.