When you fall and hurt your ankle, you can see a Physio. When you get the sniffles, you can talk to a pharmacist. Why is it when we’re feeling a little off mentally, it seems a little harder to reach out, and find someone who can help?
At ahm, we reckon mental health is just as important as physical health. And it should be just as easy to access the right mental health support for you. So, we’ve added even more mental health support options to some of our extras and package cover.
Our members now have more choice than ever when it comes to using their health insurance and finding mental health support that suits them.
Counselling is new to some of our extras and package cover, and involves talking therapy. It might be offered by a psychologist, nurse, social worker or occupational therapist. You don’t need a referral from a GP to see a counsellor, and they have training in different areas, for people with different needs.
- No waiting periods: which means you can start seeing a counsellor as soon as you’re ready.
- Telehealth claims available: so if your recognised provider offers telehealth, you could choose where and when you see them.
- Choice of provider: as long as they're recognised by ahm you can see whoever you like. The criteria for counsellor recognition is here, you can talk with a provider and ask if they’re recognised by ahm, or just use our tool to find the right provider for you.
Counselling has a combined, annual limit with Psychology, along with some other services, depending on what type of cover you have. We can pay benefits towards counselling services, on eligible cover, for services received from the 15th of October.
To find out exactly what you can claim for when it comes to Counselling check out the extras or package product guides that include Counselling.
Psychology is included on some of our extras and package cover. Psychologists can provide a range of therapies (eg. talking therapy, art therapy) to help with problems like depression, anxiety, stress and grief. You need a referral from a GP to see a Psychologist under a Mental Health Care plan and to claim a rebate from Medicare
- No waiting periods: which means you can start seeing a psychology as soon as you’re ready.
- Telehealth claims available: so if your recognised provider offers telehealth, you could choose where and when you see them.
- Choose your own provider: as long as they're recognised by ahm you can see whoever you like. Use our tool to find the right provider for you.
Psychology has a combined annual limit with Counselling, along with some other services, depending on what type of cover you have.
To find out exactly what you can claim for when it comes to Psychology check out the extras and package product guides that include Psychology.Psychiatrists specialise in the biological causes of mental illness and are medical doctors with specialist qualifications in psychiatry. They can prescribe medications and admit people to hospital (psychologists and counsellors can’t do this).
The mental health waiver allows a person with hospital cover to access in-hospital psychiatric services without serving the usual 2 month waiting period. All hospital cover has the mental health waiver. A member must have served their two month waiting period for Restricted hospital psychiatric services to upgrade to a cover with Included hospital psychiatric services and elect to have the two month waiting period for those higher benefits waived.
As ahm is part of the Medibank Group, we’re pleased to be allowing ahm members who have hospital or package cover to access the Medibank Mental Health Support Line. That means you can speak to a mental health professional who can provide advice and information in relation to any mental health issues or concerns that you may have, at any time of the day.
Lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1800 532 012.
We want to make mental health easier to understand, so it's easier for you to access the right mental health support for you.
- What’s the difference between counselling, psychology and psychiatry?
- How normal is anxiety in Aussies?
- Are mental and physical health related?
- What to expect when you see a psychologist
Beyond Blue for information and advice, as well as an online live chat. You can also call and speak to someone 24 hours a day on 1300 22 4636.
PANDA provides a free confidential helpline service offering support for new and expecting mums and dads who are struggling with becoming a parent. You can call 1300 726 306 to speak with a trained counsellor 9am-7.30pm (AEST), Monday to Friday.
Lifeline for crisis support and suicide prevention services with an online live chat. You can also call them 24 hours a day on 13 11 14.
