Do I need a GP referral letter for a psychologist?
For reimbursed care through your health insurer, a GP referral is mandatory. For care you pay for yourself it is not, and neither is it for the PsyIntake booking fee. Read when you need what.
For reimbursed mental health care
If you want psychological help reimbursed by your health insurer (basic mental health care or specialised mental health care), you need a GP referral letter. Without it, the insurer will not reimburse the costs. The GP refers using a code that determines which level of care you are directed to.
Without a referral letter
You may visit a psychologist without a referral, but you pay yourself. This is called 'non-reimbursed care' or 'direct access'. The advantage: no need to visit the GP first, no threshold, and you can start immediately. PsyIntake uses this model for the intake conversation.
The intake via PsyIntake
No referral letter is needed for the intake conversation via PsyIntake. You book an appointment directly with an available provider. After the intake, the provider can, if useful, continue treatment, sometimes via reimbursed care, for which a referral letter would then be required.
Tip
Some supplementary insurance plans also reimburse a limited number of sessions with a psychologist without a referral. Check your policy summary or call your insurer.
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