18/09/2026
💡 COULD THE MEDICARE SAFETY NET HELP WITH THE COST OF THERAPY?
We recently shared some information about the Medicare Safety Net in our clinic e-newsletter and it had such a popular response that we thought we’d share it here too - in case it can help more people access the support they need. 💗
If you have regular out-of-hospital medical costs, the Medicare Safety Net may mean you receive higher Medicare benefits once you reach a relevant threshold. You can also combine eligible costs with your partner and children if you’re registered as a Medicare Safety Net family.
For people accessing psychology under Medicare-funded mental health services, this may be worth understanding - particularly if you or your family have a number of Medicare-eligible health expenses throughout the year.
👉 A few important things to know:
• Medicare Safety Nets are calculated over the calendar year (1 January–31 December).
• If you’re an individual with no dependants, Medicare automatically keeps track of your eligible costs.
• Families and couples can register to combine eligible costs, which may help you reach a threshold sooner.
• Once you reach a relevant threshold, you may receive a higher Medicare benefit for eligible services for the rest of that calendar year.
⚠️ It’s important to check your own circumstances and eligibility, as not every psychology appointment or out-of-pocket expense will necessarily count towards a Safety Net threshold.
You can check your Medicare Safety Net information through your myGov Medicare account or find out more directly from Services Australia.
📌 We’re sharing this as general information, not financial or Medicare advice.
If the cost of psychology has been holding you back from getting support, it may be worth looking into whether the Medicare Safety Net could make a difference for you.
💗 Need help getting started with psychology?
GOALS Psychology supports children, teenagers and adults in Brisbane.
To learn more about us: www.goalspsychology.com
📞 0451 674 121
📧 [email protected]
Here’s some more info:
Could the Medicare Safety Net help you with the cost of therapy?
The Medicare Safety Net is a topic that we thought we’d draw attention to as a sometimes not well known way to reduce the costs of accessing psychology services. Here is some info to consider if this may be a helpful was to support your access to therapy if you were worries it was financially out of reach:
If the cost of accessing healthcare is adding up, you may have heard of the Medicare Safety Net. It is designed to provide additional financial support to people who have high out-of-pocket costs for eligible out-of-hospital Medicare services.
How does it work?
Medicare Safety Nets operate on a calendar-year basis, from 1 January to 31 December. As you have eligible medical expenses throughout the year, Medicare keeps track of the amounts you have paid and claimed. Once you reach a Medicare Safety Net threshold, you may receive a higher Medicare benefit for eligible services for the rest of that calendar year. There are different Safety Net thresholds, including the Original Medicare Safety Net (OMSN) and the Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN). People who hold certain concession cards or receive Family Tax Benefit Part A may be eligible for a lower EMSN threshold.
Can psychology appointments count?
Yes - psychology services provided under Medicare’s Better Access initiative are eligible Medicare services and have an Extended Medicare Safety Net benefit cap. This means that eligible psychology appointments can contribute towards a person’s Medicare Safety Net calculations when the relevant Medicare claim is made.
For example, current Medicare Benefits Schedule psychology items include psychological therapy and focussed psychological strategies services, with the applicable Medicare rebate and Extended Medicare Safety Net cap specified for each item. Importantly, this does not mean that the full psychology appointment fee is covered. The Safety Net relates to the Medicare benefit and eligible out-of-pocket costs; your psychologist’s usual fee still applies.
What does this mean in practice?
Imagine you are regularly attending psychology appointments under a Medicare-eligible referral and paying a gap after receiving your Medicare rebate. Those eligible costs can contribute towards your Medicare Safety Net threshold. If you reach the relevant threshold during the year, you may then receive a higher Medicare benefit for eligible services for the remainder of that calendar year, subject to the relevant rules and benefit caps. This may be particularly relevant for people who have regular appointments or a number of different Medicare-covered healthcare expenses throughout the year.
What about families?
If you are part of a couple or family, you may be able to register as a Medicare Safety Net family and combine eligible costs. This can help your family reach a threshold sooner. Families and couples need to register with Medicare, even if everyone is already listed on the same Medicare card.
What do I need to do?
If you are an individual without dependants, you generally don’t need to register- Medicare keeps track of your eligible out-of-pocket and gap amounts. If you are a family or couple, you can register with Medicare so eligible expenses can be combined. You can check your progress towards a Medicare Safety Net threshold through your myGov account linked to Medicare or the myGov app. Medicare Safety Net rules can be complex and eligibility depends on the type of service, Medicare item claimed and your individual or family circumstances. We recommend checking your own circumstances directly with Medicare or Services Australia.
👉 Find out more: Medicare Safety Nets – Services Australia
This information is general information only and is not financial or Medicare advice. Please check your individual eligibility and circumstances with Services Australia.
We hope that drawing your attention to this may help with accessing therapy for you or someone you know!
GOALS Psychology and OT is a psychology clinic located in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. We provide psychology appointments for adults, teens and children. Book your appointment today.
