You’ve probably heard someone mention a mental health care plan. Maybe your GP brought it up. Maybe a friend told you it’s how they started seeing a psychologist. Maybe you’ve been Googling at midnight, trying to figure out whether any of this applies to you.
The short answer: it probably does. And the process is simpler than the system makes it look.
For neurodivergent adults, navigating admin-heavy healthcare processes can feel like its own barrier, on top of the thing you’re actually trying to address. This article is a walkthrough of what a mental health care plan is, how to get one, what it covers, and how it connects to support for ADHD and neurodivergence.
This is general information current at the time of writing, not personalised medical advice.
What Is a Mental Health Care Plan?
A mental health care plan (sometimes called a Mental Health Treatment Plan, MHTP, or MHCP) is a document your GP creates with you. It outlines your mental health needs, sets some goals, and includes a referral to a mental health professional.
It’s part of the Australian Government’s Better Access initiative, which was designed to make mental health support more affordable through Medicare. With a mental health care plan, you can access up to 10 individual Medicare-rebated sessions per calendar year with an eligible mental health professional. Eligible professionals include psychologists, accredited mental health social workers, and occupational therapists.
The structure works like this: your GP refers you for up to 6 sessions to start. After those 6, you return to your GP for a review, and they can refer you for up to 4 more if needed.
The key thing most people want to know: a mental health care plan helps reduce the cost of therapy. It doesn’t make it free, but the Medicare rebate makes it significantly more accessible than paying the full fee privately.
Who Can Get a Mental Health Care Plan?
Anyone with a Medicare card who is experiencing a mental health condition can talk to their GP about getting a plan. You don’t need a pre-existing diagnosis to start the conversation. Your GP can assess your needs during the appointment and determine whether a plan is appropriate.
The plan covers a broad range of presentations, including anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, emotional regulation difficulties, trauma, and CPTSD. All of these commonly co-occur with ADHD and neurodivergence.
If you’ve been told your struggles are “just stress” or “just personality,” a mental health care plan can be a pathway to getting support that actually fits. It’s worth the conversation.
How to Get a Mental Health Care Plan
Book a Longer Appointment With Your GP
The appointment involves an assessment, goal-setting, and creating the plan document, so a standard 10-minute slot usually isn’t enough. When you book, you can say something like “I’d like to discuss a mental health care plan.” The receptionist will know what that means.
If phone calls are hard, many practices allow online booking or email requests. It’s also okay to write your concerns down beforehand and hand them to the GP. Dot points are fine. Your GP won’t judge the format.
What Happens in the Appointment
Your GP will ask about how you’ve been feeling, what’s been difficult, and how long things have been going on. They may use a screening tool like the K10, a short questionnaire about mood, stress, and functioning.
Together, you’ll set some broad goals for what you’d like support with. Your GP will then write the plan and provide a referral to an eligible mental health professional.
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you walk in. It’s okay if your answer is “I don’t know what’s wrong, I just know something isn’t working.” That’s enough to start.
What to Do After You Have the Plan
Many people find a practitioner first and then go back to their GP for the referral. That’s a completely valid way to do it. If you already know who you’d like to work with, let your GP know so they can write the referral with the correct professional title.
If you don’t have a practitioner in mind, your GP may suggest someone, or you can search for one that suits your needs. Either way, bring or send your referral and plan before your first session.
After 6 sessions, return to your GP for a review. They’ll check in on progress and can refer you for up to 4 more sessions if needed. Plans reset each calendar year (January to December).
What Does Medicare Actually Cover?
Medicare covers a portion of each session, not usually the full fee. The gap between the practitioner’s fee and the rebate is your out-of-pocket cost. It’s worth asking a practitioner about their fees and what the gap will be before your first session, so there are no surprises.
Private health insurance may also offer rebates depending on your cover. It’s worth checking with your fund, though you can’t use private health and Medicare for the same session.
Important to know: Medicare mental health plans cover therapy and counselling for diagnosed mental health conditions. They do not cover ADHD or Autism assessments, cognitive testing, ADHD coaching, or couples counselling. If you’re looking for services outside of what Medicare covers, other funding pathways like JobAccess, private health, or NDIS may apply.
Mental Health Care Plans and ADHD: What Neurodivergent Adults Should Know
This is the part most articles about mental health care plans leave out entirely.
ADHD is classified as a neurodevelopmental condition, not a mental health disorder. However, it commonly co-occurs with anxiety, depression, burnout, emotional dysregulation, chronic stress, trauma, and CPTSD. All of these are covered under a mental health care plan. Many neurodivergent adults access Medicare-rebated counselling to address these co-occurring experiences, which are often closely connected to living with ADHD and/or Autism.
It’s also worth knowing that accredited mental health social workers are eligible Medicare providers, just like psychologists. This matters because some of the most experienced neurodivergent-affirming therapists in Australia hold this qualification, and their sessions are rebatable under Better Access.
A mental health care plan isn’t the only way to access support, but for many people it’s a practical and affordable starting point. Especially if you’ve been managing everything privately and cost has been a barrier.
And if the system itself feels like a lot, that’s real. The steps involved (booking, attending, following up, rebooking) require executive function at a time when executive function is already stretched. It’s okay to ask someone to help you get started. That might be a friend, a partner, or a reception at a practice you trust.
Tips for Neurodivergent Adults Navigating the Process
Write your concerns down before the GP appointment. Dot points, voice notes on your phone, a list scribbled on the back of a receipt. It all works. Your GP won’t judge the format.
If you’re not sure what to say, starting with “I’ve been struggling with…” or “I think I might need support for…” is enough.
Ask the GP to explain anything you don’t understand. You’re allowed to ask questions, and you’re allowed to take your time.
If your GP isn’t familiar with ADHD or neurodivergence, you can request a referral to a practitioner who is. You can change practitioners if the first one doesn’t feel right. You don’t lose your sessions.
Set a phone reminder for the review appointment after session 5 or 6. It’s easy to forget, and you need the review to unlock the remaining sessions.
A Gentle Next Step
If you’ve been putting this off, that’s understandable. The system asks a lot of the person who’s already struggling. But getting a mental health care plan is one conversation with your GP. It doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to happen.
If you already have a mental health care plan and you’re looking for a neurodivergent-affirming practitioner, The Divergent Edge offers counselling through Medicare-eligible clinicians, as well as therapeutic coaching and other support. We have practitioners at different fee points, with a range of professional backgrounds and expertise. If you’re not sure what fits, reach out, and we’ll help you work it out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a mental health care plan for ADHD?
A mental health care plan covers treatment for diagnosed mental health conditions. While ADHD itself is classified as a neurodevelopmental condition, many people with ADHD experience co-occurring anxiety, depression, emotional dysregulation, or burnout, which are covered. Your GP can help you determine what’s appropriate for your plan.
How much does a mental health care plan cost?
The GP appointment to create the plan is usually covered by Medicare. The sessions with a mental health professional are partially covered by a Medicare rebate, and the gap depends on the practitioner’s fees. At The Divergent Edge, we have several counsellors and accredited mental health social workers offering Medicare-eligible services at different fee points, with significant and varied expertise. Contact reception to find out what the gap would be for the practitioner you’re considering.
Can I choose my own psychologist or counsellor?
Yes. Your GP may suggest someone, but you’re free to find a practitioner who suits you. Many of our clients find us first and then ask their GP for a referral. If you want to see an accredited mental health social worker at TDE, let your GP know so they can write the referral with the correct professional title.
What’s the difference between a mental health care plan and an ADHD assessment?
A mental health care plan gives you access to Medicare-rebated therapy sessions for mental health support. An ADHD assessment is a separate clinical process to identify whether ADHD is present. Medicare does not cover ADHD assessments under the Better Access initiative.
How often do I need to renew my mental health care plan?
Plans are typically reviewed after 6 sessions and can be renewed each calendar year. Your GP manages this process with you. Your Medicare session entitlement resets each January.
What is the difference between a counsellor, a psychologist, and an accredited mental health social worker?
All three can provide therapy, but they differ in training, registration, and Medicare eligibility. Psychologists complete postgraduate psychology training and are registered with AHPRA. Accredited mental health social workers are qualified social workers with additional mental health accreditation through the AASW. Both psychologists and AMHSWs can provide Medicare-rebated sessions under the Better Access initiative.
Registered counsellors are members of professional bodies like ACA or PACFA and provide counselling and psychotherapy, but their sessions are not eligible for Medicare rebates. Some private health funds do offer rebates for counselling sessions, depending on your level of cover. At TDE, all of our practitioners bring neurodivergent lived experience alongside their professional qualifications.
