How Medibank's cover can help support your mental health

Find out how to use your extras or hospital cover for mental health support.

Using your cover for mental health support.

We’re here to help you make the most of your cover and connect you with the right support.

How you could use your Extras cover for mental health support

Psychology and counselling claims

No waiting periods on psychology and counselling consultations

Pharmacogenetic (PGx) Testing

Check your Cover Summary via My Medibank Chat to us about your cover

How you could use your Hospital cover for mental health support

For members on select Silver Plus or Gold Hospital cover, that includes unrestricted Hospital psychiatric services, who have served their 2 month waiting period, Medibank can help pay towards Hospital psychiatric services in a private hospital. Your cover can pay towards hospital accommodation and any medical costs raised by doctors where a Medicare benefit is payable.

There may be out of pocket costs, which depends on the hospital you’re admitted to and what your treating specialists charge. Speak to your treating specialist about what your out-of-pocket costs may be.

For members on Basic, Bronze or Silver Hospital cover with restricted Hospital psychiatric services who have served their 2 month waiting periods, we pay limited benefits. This means that if you choose to be treated in a private hospital the benefits we pay will not cover all hospital costs and you could incur significant out-of-pocket expenses.

Mental Health Waiver

Eligible members^* with hospital cover who have served a waiting period for restricted Hospital psychiatric services on Basic, Bronze or Silver Hospital cover, can choose to upgrade their cover to one with included Hospital psychiatric services, and have the 2-month waiting period for those higher benefits on Hospital psychiatric services waived. This waiver applies only once per lifetime. This can allow eligible members to get access to higher mental health hospital benefits sooner.

To use the Mental Health Waiver contact us on 132 331 or via 24/7 live chat. You can also grant authority to another person to make changes to your policy on your behalf.

Medibank Alcohol and Drug Detox at Home program

Medibank is funding a service (until 24 Nov 2026^±), provided by Clean Slate Clinic, which enables eligible members⁺ with Included Hospital psychiatric services, who meet Clean Slate Clinic’s program eligibility criteria⁼ to safely withdraw from alcohol, drugs or other stimulants at home with support from a qualified nurse with experience in alcohol and drug dependencies and a GP.

If you’d like to check your suitability or have further questions, please contact Clean Slate Clinic on (02) 3813 8104, Monday to Friday, 9 am–6 pm (AEST), or complete their online suitability check. For questions about your cover, you can contact our Customer Health Service Team on 1300 531 729.

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Sleep studies

Sleep plays a vital role in mental health, with poor sleep often linked to conditions like anxiety, depression, and mood disorders. Sleep studies can help uncover and guide treatment for underlying medical problems like sleep apnoea or insomnia that may drive poor sleep conditions. For members on hospital cover, that includes Sleep studies, and who have served their 2 month waiting periods, Medibank can help pay benefits towards Sleep studies and associated devices like CPAP machines if you meet the required conditions.^{*^}For members with pre-existing conditions, a 12-month waiting period will apply.

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Medibank Health Concierge

Check your Cover Summary via My Medibank Chat to us about your cover

Mental health tools at your fingertips.

At Medibank, our mental health support options go beyond extras and hospital cover. From apps to support lines, here’s a rundown of the additional mental health support that’s available to our members.

24/7 Medibank Mental Health Support

Our mental health professionals are on call to be your guide. Medibank health insurance members can call 1800 644 325, or log in to chat, 24 hours a day 7 days a week at no extra cost.^~

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Mental Health Hub

Resources, tools and information to help you learn more about mental health and the different support options available.

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Live Better rewards

A health and wellbeing program that rewards eligible members^*# for taking healthy actions for their body and mind.

Find out more

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Boost your mental fitness

Mental fitness helps you adapt to change, manage challenges and grow your resilience. Discover the small, everyday actions that can help you boost yours.

Explore mental fitness

Not a Medibank health insurance member yet?

From everyday wellness to mental health management, find out more about how our products can help support you here.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find out what mental health support is included in my cover?

How do I find a psychologist, counsellor or mental health social worker?

Do I need a mental health treatment plan to see a mental health professional?

You need a mental health treatment plan if you want to claim your mental health sessions via Medicare. Your GP can write a mental health treatment plan for you.

You don’t need a mental health treatment plan if you want to use your Medibank extras cover to claim for sessions with a psychologist, Medibank-recognised counsellor or mental health social worker.

You can’t claim via Medicare and Medibank for the same appointment.

How do I make a mental health claim using my Medibank health cover?

I need to talk to a mental health professional now.

If your life or someone else’s is in danger, call 000 immediately.

If you’re in distress and need help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 for 24/7 crisis support.

Medibank health insurance members can chat to a mental health professional about how they feel and ask questions about a range of mental health concerns for themselves or a loved one and get guidance on what they can do next. Chat online or call 1800 644 325 anytime of the day or night, 7 days a week at no extra cost.^~

What mental health support is available for non-Medibank members?

Things you need to know

^§Annual limits apply. Counsellors must be registered with Australian Counselling Association, Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia, Australian Traditional Medicine Society. Mental Health Social Workers must hold a mental health accreditation by the Australian Association of Social Workers.

^# Not available for members with Comprehensive Overseas Student Health Cover.

* To be eligible for the waiver, you need to have held hospital cover without a break of more than 2 months. You can only use the Mental Health Waiver once in your lifetime. The waiver only applies to the 2-month waiting period for the higher Included benefits for in-hospital psychiatric services and all other applicable waiting periods will continue to apply.

^± Medibank Alcohol and Drug Detox at Home program is initially a 12-month trial that starts in November 2025.

⁺ Members must, for the duration of the program, hold residential hospital cover that includes unrestricted Hospital psychiatric services, and have served any applicable waiting periods.

⁼Participation in the program is subject to Clean Slate Clinic’s eligibility criteria and may not be suitable for everyone.

The program is delivered virtually by Clean Slate Clinic and is available nationally.

Clicking on any Check your suitability call to action, will take you to Clean Slate Clinic. Clean slate provides the clinical service and collects your health information. Medibank only receives limited details needed to confirm eligibility and fund your participation. See the Medibank Privacy Policy and Clean Slate Clinics Privacy Policy.

^{*^}Medibank members can check their cover inclusions in their Cover Summary. This document outlines what’s included in your specific cover type, as well as any exclusions, waiting periods or annual limits. You can access your Cover Summary via My Medibank.

^{§^}Health Concierge is available to eligible Medibank members who hold residential hospital cover. Excludes Overseas Visitor Health Cover, Working Visa Health Cover and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Some referred services may involve out-of-pocket costs.^~ Some referred services may involve out of pocket costs and waiting periods may apply.

^€Not available for members with extras only cover, ambulance only cover, Overseas Student Health Cover or Overseas Workers or Visitors Health Cover.

~Some referred services may involve out of pocket costs and waiting periods may apply

^*#Must be 16 years or over to register for Medibank Live Better rewards. Some program partners and earning activities require a person to be at least 18 years of age to be eligible to earn and/or redeem a reward. Must be a Medibank member with hospital cover, extras cover, or hospital and extras cover, be up-to-date with premium payments and have signed up to Medibank Live Better rewards in the My Medibank app to earn Live Better points for eligible purchases and redeem rewards. Excludes Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), Ambulance only cover, ahm covers and other selected covers. Live Better Management Pty Ltd, ACN 003 457 289 has entered into commercial arrangements with Medibank Live Better program partners and may receive commissions. Additional terms and conditions may apply to points earning activities and rewards. Points earning activities and rewards are subject to change and may be subject to availability. Wherever possible, we will give you notice of these changes. See full Medibank Live Better rewards terms.

While we hope you find this information helpful, please note that it is general in nature. It is not health advice, and is not tailored to meet your individual health needs. You should always consult a trusted health professional before making decisions about your health care. While we have prepared the information carefully, we can’t guarantee that it is accurate, complete or up-to-date. And while we may mention goods or services provided by others, we aren’t specifically endorsing them and can’t accept responsibility for them. For these reasons we are unable to accept responsibility for any loss that may be sustained from acting on this information (subject to applicable consumer guarantees).