Private health rebates for hypnotherapy

Many private health funds pay rebates on clinical hypnotherapy under Extras cover, but whether you can claim (and how much) depends on your fund, your policy level, and whether the fund recognises your practitioner. Always confirm with your fund before your appointment.

What determines your rebate

Three things decide whether money comes back to you:

• Your fund. Some funds cover hypnotherapy, some cover it partially, some not at all. Start with our directory at /health-funds. See health fund directory.
• Your policy level. Even within one fund, hypnotherapy may be included at higher Extras tiers only, with its own annual limits and gap amounts.
• Practitioner recognition. Funds recognise practitioners through their professional association. Our practitioners are looked up via their Australian Hypnotherapists Association (AHA) association number, which is available on request and shown on your invoice.

How claiming works

You pay in full at your appointment and claim directly with your fund afterwards using your tax invoice. There is no HICAPS terminal in the clinic. The step-by-step process is in how to claim a rebate. Note that Medicare is separate and does not cover hypnotherapy at all. See Medicare and hypnotherapy.

Common questions

Q: How do I find out if my fund covers hypnotherapy? A: Check the directory at /health-funds for your fund's status, then phone your fund to confirm your policy's cover level, annual limit and any gap. Cover changes, so the fund's answer is the final word.

Q: What number does my fund need to recognise the practitioner? A: Funds look up our practitioners via their AHA association number. It's shown on your invoice and available on request before your appointment.

Q: Can you swipe my health fund card at the clinic? A: No. There's no HICAPS in clinic. You pay in full, receive a tax invoice, and claim with your fund yourself.

Q: Does Medicare add anything on top? A: No. Medicare and GP Mental Health Care Plans don't cover hypnotherapy. Private health Extras is the only rebate pathway.

Q: Can you give me an item number to claim? A: We don't issue Medicare item numbers. For private health, your fund looks up the practitioner via their AHA association number (on your invoice). Confirm cover with your fund first; cover is not universal.