For professional psychological counselling call 0416 131 745
Fees & Rebates
The individual counselling sessions are 45 to 50 minutes, although the initial appointment may run a little longer. It is not necessary to have a referral from a GP. Clients can ring and make an appointment any time. However, a referral and MHCP is essential if intending to claim Medicare rebates. This is not a bulk billing practice. However, Megan believes that good mental health care should be accessible to as many people as possible. Therefore she offers a sliding scale of fees to balance access to services with sustainable practice. Megan invites you to consider the following categories, ask yourself honestly how many criteria are a match for you, and make your own assessment of the fee that best fits your circumstances:
Standard Fee:
- I am comfortably able to meet my basic* needs.
- I may have some debt but it does not prohibit the attainment of basic needs.
- I own my home or property OR I rent a higher end property.
- I own or lease a car.
- I am employed or do not need to work to meet my needs.
- I have regular access to health care.
- I have access to financial savings or family resources in times of need.
- I have expendable* income.
- I can afford an annual vacation or time off.
- I sometimes travel overseas.
* Basic needs: include food, housing, transport. * Expendable Income: being able to visit a cafe, eat out, go to movies or concerts, buy new clothes, books, etc each month.
Discounted Fee:
- I may stress about meeting my basic needs but still regularly achieve them.
- I may have some debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs.
- I own or lease a car.
- I am employed.
- I have access to health care.
- I might have access to financial savings or family resources.
- I have some expendable income.
- I am able to buy some new items and source others second hand.
- I can take a vacation annually or every few years without financial burden.
- I am able bodied.
- Paying for therapy represents a choice to change spending priorities.
Minimum Fee:
- I frequently stress about meeting basic needs and don’t always achieve them.
- I have debt and it sometimes prohibits me from meeting my basic needs.
- I rent low-end housing or have unstable housing.
- I do not have a car and/or have limited access to a car but I am not always able to afford petrol.
- I am unemployed or underemployed.
- I qualify for government assistance.
- I have no access to savings or family resources.
- I am sick or have a disability that impacts my ability to work.
- I have no or very limited expendable income.
- I rarely buy new items as I am unable to afford them. I cannot afford a vacatio or take time off without financial burden.
- Paying full fees for therapy would represent a hardship that would lead to harmful impacts such as not being able to pay for food, rent or transport to work.
#Thanks to Alexis Cunningfolk, Hadassah Damien and Panda Cheong for inspiration regarding criteria.
Medicare rebates are available for up to ten sessions per calendar year with a referral from a GP under a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) subject to telehealth rules. Medicare requires the full fee to be paid up front before the rebate can be claimed. Rebates are claimed electronically, so clients do not have to attend a Medicare office to receive the rebate. If you have seen another psychologist during the year, those sessions are counted in the Medicare limit of ten, and the number of remaining rebates is reduced, so please let Megan know if that is the case. You can ring Medicare on 13 21 50 if you are not sure how many sessions you have used.
Some funds provide a limited number of rebates per year. To claim through your private health insurance, you will need to contact your provider to see if you are eligible.
Payments are to be made prior to the session or during the session. Megan accepts payment by Direct Deposit to:
Account Name: Megan Haire. BSB: 142 001 / Account number: 102855530 / Ref: your name
Megan asks that you try to give more than two days notice of any cancellation or rescheduling. If you leave it until the day before your appointment when it is too late to book other clients, a 50% cancellation fee will apply. Clients who fail to attend or cancel appointments before the session will be charged 100% of the fee. Medicare rebates do not cover cancellation fees. If there are significant extenuating circumstances, you may apply to Megan for special consideration.
Schedule of Fees
Megan charges the follow fees:
| Service | Upfront Fee | Rebate | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Fee | $280 | $131.65 | $148.35 |
| Discount Fee | $210 | $131.65 | $78.35 |
| Minimum Fee | $180 | $131.65 | $48.35 |
|
Cancellation Fees DNA/No Show |
50 % of fee 100% of fee |
Pregnancy Support Counselling
A person who is currently pregnant or who has been pregnant in the preceding 12 months, and who is concerned about any issue relating to that pregnancy, may claim Medicare benefits for up to three 30 minute sessions of non-directive pregnancy support counselling services (in total) per pregnancy. Clients must be referred by a GP.
Contact Megan on 0416 131 745 for more information or to make an appointment.
Location
Telehealth, servicing metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas of Australian Eastern time zones (NSW, Qld, ACT, Vict). PO Box 5155, Orange NSW 2800.
Updated March 2023
Contact Megan
For enquiries or appointments
call or text Megan on 0416 131 745 or email her at:
meganhairepsychology@gmail.com