Ask a health navigator
Have you just been given a diagnosis and you're not sure where to start?
Are you taking steps to improve your health and wellbeing, and need help finding services?
Are you having trouble working out the aged care system?
Finding health and wellbeing services can be hard. We can help!
Our Health Navigators are here to help to listen to your needs, provide you with information*, and connect you with services that can help you on your health and wellbeing journey. And the best news it's completely free^ for every Tasmanian, member or not.
*All information provided through health navigation is for information purposes only and is not suitable for the advice of a qualified health professional.
^If you use the services of a provider we have suggested, there may be fees involved.
Here are some questions we received recently from some participants:
What is the difference between a social worker and a psychologist?
Social Workers help people tackle problems by helping to clarify issues, explore options and develop strategies. They do not tend to diagnose or offer assessments, but they can support people with mild to moderate symptoms of mental illness. Psychologists have special training in diagnosis and assessment, and they tend to support people with more severe mental health problems. Some psychologists can offer ADHD assessments, and it is important to note that whilst psychologists may be able to diagnose ADHD, they cannot prescribe medication.
I live rurally and find it very hard to find providers and services in my area. What options do I have?
We understand that it can feel isolating when there’s a lack of services available. We can assist you in finding visiting providers in your area or can help you find providers or services that are accessible by Telehealth. We can also look into community transport assistance if you need to see a provider face to face. If you need certain medical care or surgery that is not accessible in your area and you are required to travel – we can look into Government subsidised transport options that may be available.
What’s the new Medicare bulk billing incentive program for GPs? I’ve seen it a lot in the news.
From 1st November 2025, the Government has introduced new incentives to encourage GPs to bulk bill all patients. Before this, the incentives were only for children under 16 and concession card holders – which is why you might have seen some practices only bulk billing these groups.
Bulk billing is when a doctor bills Medicare directly and accepts that as full payment, so you don’t pay anything out-of-pocket.
What’s important to know is that GP practices will need to opt in to this bulk billing incentive program – it’s up to them to decide if they want to participate. Also, individual GPs can’t opt in on their own – the whole practice needs to be on board.
f a practice opts in, they should bulk bill all general consults, but you might still get an out-of-pocket fee for extra services like procedures.
It’s a good idea to call your GP practice to find out if they’re participating and what it means for you. And if you’re not sure where to start - or need help finding a practice that’s opted in - our friendly Health Navigation team is here to help.
I’m a St Lukes member, and I’m seeing my surgeon soon to book in for an operation – what are some useful things to ask them?
It’s always a good idea to think of some questions in advance and write them down to take to your appointment – sometimes it can be hard to think in the moment!
Some useful questions you could ask are:
- What is the expected cost of the operation? You can ask for an Informed Financial Consent, which will tell you your expected out-of-pocket cost
- Are there other doctors who will be involved in my operation, and how can I find out about their fees? For example, an assistant surgeon or anaesthetist
- Do you participate in the St Lukes Medical Gap arrangement? You can find more information about this on the St Lukes website Medical Gap | St Lukes
- Will there be other out-of-pocket costs I should be aware of? For example, blood tests, scans and medications
- What kind of post-operative care do you think I will need?
Once you have your Informed Financial Consent and Item Numbers for the operation, have a chat to our Customer Care team to find out if you’re covered (Health Navigators can’t access your policy).
If you need any help organising services and support for after your operation, our Health Navigation team can help you get started – just reach out! This goes for non-members as well – we’re here to help all Tasmanians.
So if you have a question, or just need a hand getting started on your journey, reach out to one of us today. You can book an appointment with the team or fill in the form below. Please allow two business days for a response.
Ask a Health Navigator
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