Health insurance for physiotherapy

The table below displays a range of extras-only health insurance policies from our online partners that include cover for physio.

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The initial results in the table above are sorted by Star Rating (High-Low) , then Monthly premium (approx) (Low-High) , then Provider Name (Alphabetical) . Additional filters may have been applied, which impact the results displayed in the table - filters can be applied or removed at any time.

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About Physio Health Insurance

Physiotherapy is a treatment that aims to help people move freely and with less pain by using physical methods such as massage, movement and exercise. If you’re considering taking out health insurance for physiotherapy, here are some important things to know. 

What is health insurance for physiotherapy?

Health insurance in Australia is broken down into two components, hospital cover and extras cover. Physio cover is generally included as a component of extras, and if you have this kind of cover, you may be able to claim some of the cost of your physio sessions back on insurance, up to an annual limit.

You can use the table at the top of this page to see a range of health insurance extras policies that include physio cover, offered by Canstar’s online partners. Adjust the filters to suit your needs.

How does physio cover work?

Generally speaking, when you take out extras cover, physiotherapy will be included as a service you can claim. Once you have served the relevant waiting periods, you will be able to claim back part of the cost of your physio treatments back. The amount you can claim for each physiotherapy session will depend on your health insurance provider.

Your extras cover will typically come with an annual limit, which is the total amount you can claim in a calendar year. Some health insurers will provide you a percentage back for each physiotherapy session – for example, 60% of the cost of each visit – until you hit your annual limit. Some may offer a certain amount – for example, $500 annually for physio treatments.

Some health insurance providers will have a network of preferred providers, or partner providers – these are physiotherapists and dentists who have an arrangement with your health fund. If you choose to be treated by these providers, you may be able to claim a higher percentage back than you would at other providers, potentially even up to 100% of the cost.

Frequently Asked Questions about Physio Health Insurance

Extras cover is a kind of health insurance that can help you and your family cover the costs of a variety of out-of-hospital healthcare services and complementary therapies not covered by Medicare. Generally speaking, as well as physiotherapy, extras will cover such services as dental, optical, and potentially natural therapies like acupuncture and remedial massage. Some forms of extras cover can even provide some money back for gym memberships and similar lifestyle options.

In most cases in Australia, Medicare does not cover out-of-hospital physiotherapy treatment, although under certain circumstances, a Medicare rebate can be available.

According to Services Australia, doctors can refer eligible patients to allied health practitioners, including physiotherapists, with a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan, and Medicare will provide a rebate for up to give treatment sessions per calendar year.

If you want to know more about this, you can ask your doctor or physiotherapist. Bear in mind, though, that while these five sessions may be eligible for a Medicare rebate, there is likely to still be a cost to you.

When you take out health insurance, be it hospital or extras, you may not be able to claim for every service straight away – you may instead need to serve what’s known as a waiting period before you can start using your cover.

Waiting periods for extras are set by individual insurance providers rather than the government, and for this reason, the waiting periods can vary. That said, it is typical in Australia for there to be a two-month waiting period for extras.

However, health insurers may offer to waive certain waiting periods for extras as a sign-up incentive, so if you are considering taking out insurance, it can be worth your while to peruse the latest health insurance sign-up deals and offers.

The exact process of making a claim for physiotherapy services will depend on your health insurance provider. In some cases, you may be able to present your health fund membership card at the counter when you check in for a service, and swipe it through a HICAPS machine. In this case, as long as you have not reached your annual limit, your health fund will provide your rebate on the spot, and you will only need to cover the gap.

In other cases, you may need to obtain your receipt and item number once your session is complete, and then submit a photo of these through your health fund’s app or online portal when lodging a claim. Depending on your health insurance provider and the kind of policy you have, you may also be able to claim your rebate in person or via the mail.

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Alasdair Duncan, Content Editor

Alasdair Duncan
Alasdair Duncan is Canstar's Content Editor, specialising in home loans, property and lifestyle topics. He has written more than 500 articles for Canstar and his work is widely referenced by other publishers and media outlets, including Yahoo FinanceThe New DailyThe Motley Fool and Sky News. He has featured as a guest author for property website homely.com.au. In his more than 15 years working in the media, Alasdair has written for a broad range of publications. Before joining Canstar, he was a News Editor at Pedestrian.TV, part of Australia’s leading youth media group. His work has also appeared on ABC News, Junkee, Rolling Stone, Kotaku, the Sydney Star Observer and The Brag. He has a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Journalism from the University of Queensland, and has completed a RG146 compliance training course. When he is not writing about finance for Canstar, Alasdair can probably be found at the beach with his two dogs or listening to podcasts about pop music. You can follow Alasdair on LinkedIn.

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As Canstar’s Ratings Manager, Josh Sale is responsible for the methodology and delivery of Canstar’s Health Insurance Star Ratings and Awards. With tertiary qualifications in economics and finance, Josh has worked behind the scenes for the last five years to develop Star Ratings and Awards that help connect consumers with the right health insurance policy for them. In his time at Canstar, he has analysed close to half a million health insurance quotes.

Having recently purchased a home in a riverside Brisbane suburb, Josh says he understands first-hand the importance of finding an insurer that offers appropriate cover for potential risks, such as flooding, at an affordable price. As one of Canstar’s spokespeople, Josh has been interviewed on a wide range of personal finance topics by media outlets such as the Australian Financial Review, news.com.au and Money Magazine.

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