Published 14 Aug 2025
With the cost of mental health services continuing to place significant strain on Australian households1, GMHBA is stepping up with new extras products designed to improve timely access to care.
GMHBA’s new SmartCare Extras range is designed to give members more choice, flexibility, and value. Members can choose from three simple options: Starter, Everyday, and Complete2 with the weekly premium for SmartCare Starter Extras with sub-limits from as little as $4.853.
Members who select Everyday or Complete extras can access up to 60% back on mental health services (up to sub-limit or annual limits) with members able to claim on a wider range of professionals, including Psychologists4, Counsellors, Mental Health Social Workers, and Mental Health Nurses. Importantly, consultations can be held face-to-face, in groups or via telehealth, offering members flexibility and convenience.
This comes as demand for mental health care rises5 and out-of-pocket costs grow6. Consultations can cost hundreds of dollars, leaving many Australians unable to afford ongoing support.
GMHBA CEO David Greig said the new products reflect the organisation’s ongoing commitment to affordability and accessibility.
“Mental health is inseparable from physical health. Poor mental wellbeing can affect sleep, chronic disease management, recovery from injury, and overall quality of life,” Mr Greig said.
“Offering broad access to mental health services, including telehealth, alongside the benefits our members already rely on within their extras cover helps promote proactive care, not just treatment when things reach crisis point.”
Beyond mental health support, GMHBA SmartCare Extras also deliver standout value offering a per-person limit model, allowing each member on the policy to use their extras allowance in the way that best suits their individual health needs. This flexibility ensures members are not locked into benefits they don’t use, and there is no need to share limits across a household.
All SmartCare Extras products include (up to annual or sub-limits):
- 100% back on preventative dental at the member’s preferred provider
- 60% back on physio, osteo, general dental and chiro
The Everyday and Complete options (with per person limits of $1,000 and $1,500 per year respectively) offer broader coverage including major dental, remedial massage and acupuncture, and even orthodontics and audiology (Complete only).
Members who combine their SmartCare Extras with any eligible GMHBA hospital cover also get:
- optical cover at 100% back (up to the annual optical limit)
- the ability to roll over unused extras limits (excluding optical) into the following calendar year7. This rollover applies to a wide range of services such as physio, chiro, general dental and more, helping members get greater value from their cover over time.
The new range was developed by listening to and learning from our members and undertaking a comprehensive market analysis, ensuring GMHBA delivers products that offer tangible value while staying true to its mission as a member-focused, not-for-profit organisation.
“We’re extremely proud of GMHBA’s new SmartCare Extras range and believe it represents an incredibly flexible and great value proposition to support people to live healthier lives,” Mr Greig said.
“What we’re offering goes beyond cover. It’s about being there for our members, respecting their needs, supporting their wellbeing, and making care more human.”
For more information, visit www.gmhba.com.au
[1] The National Mental Health Commission’s National Report Card (published July 2025)
[2] Product details available at: www.gmhba.com.au/smartcare
[3] Based on a single, under 65, with no LHC loading earning under $101,000 per year in VIC, base tier Australian Government Rebate on private health insurance applied.
[4] Where you are entitled to any rebate or reimbursement from Medicare for an extras service, you can’t claim any out-of-pocket expenses with GMHBA.
[5] Prevalence and impact of mental illness - Mental health - AIHW
[6] PHA: Revealed: the states and territories where people face the highest out-of-pocket costs for private medical care
[7] To be eligible, members must hold SmartCare Boost Extras in combination with hospital cover for a full 12 months. The benefit resets on 1 January each year, and once the standard annual limit is reached, the rolled-over portion becomes available to use for the following 12 months.
