Plan-Managed Pre-Approvals & Bookings: No Surprises

Section 1: What “pre-approval” means in plan management

In NDIS plan management, pre-approval means you get confirmation before a support is booked or delivered that the cost will be funded under your plan. This helps avoid surprises like you being told later that a provider can’t claim the expense, or that it uses a different budget category than expected.

Pre-approval usually involves your plan manager checking key details such as the type of support, whether it matches your goals, which budget you have available, and what the provider intends to charge. With My Care Finders, you can also use our support to help you understand what to ask providers and how to compare options, so you feel confident about what’s being quoted and booked.

Many plan-managed participants use MyMoney NDIS (www.planmanager.net.au) to view how their supports are recorded and how funding is used. While tools and apps can help you track balances, pre-approval is still about getting agreement up front that a specific booking is likely to be claimable. If anything changes (for example, hours increase or a different service is added), you may need a fresh check.

Key takeaway: Pre-approval is your “check first” step—so when the support happens, the billing is clear and aligned with your plan budgets.

• Ask the provider for an estimate or quote before confirming dates.
• Confirm the exact support and funding category (don’t rely on assumptions).
• Keep copies of quotes, booking confirmations, and any correspondence.
• When you compare providers, use My Care Finders to help you assess whether what they offer will suit your plan and expectations.