Written by Joshua Malin
Reviewed by Lana Hambilton
Last updated 20/11/2023
If you’re one of many Australians with a health condition that requires physiotherapy, private health insurance can help cover the costs. So, let’s look at some of the benefits of private health insurance for physiotherapy:
With such a broad range of applications and benefits, it’s no wonder that physiotherapy is in the top three most utilised extras health services in Australia.1 Some of the potential benefits of cover for physiotherapy include:
Once you’ve decided that health insurance for physiotherapy is right for you, the next step is to compare a range of policies to find one that suits your needs and budget. Here are a few things to consider while you browse:
Our health insurance expert, Lana Hambilton, has some tips on how to find an extras policy that meets your physiotherapy needs.
Physiotherapy is a common inclusion on many extras products. This means that there are a lot of health insurance policies that include physiotherapy for an affordable price. If you’re claiming on services such as physiotherapy regularly, then taking out the right extras policy could help you save money.
Some policies will allow you to claim on additional benefits such as myotherapy, hydrotherapy, exercise physiology and more using your physiotherapy cover. These additional benefits are not included on all policies with physiotherapy cover, so it’s important to read the policy brochure and check with your fund.
Physiotherapy cover can sometimes be grouped with other services, so if these are services that you use regularly, you may use up your group limit quite quickly and find yourself paying for the full appointment out of pocket until your limits reset. If this is the case, you may want to look for policies with higher group limits or that don’t group physiotherapy cover with other services you regularly claim on.
Yes, an extras policy (which pays a benefit towards some out-of-hospital services) can contribute towards your physiotherapy costs up to the limits outlined by your insurer. Depending on your level of cover, a hospital cover policy may also pay towards physiotherapy costs that you incur as a hospital inpatient.
Keep in mind that you’ll typically need to serve a waiting period before you can claim physiotherapy on health insurance. For further information, read through your policy brochure to understand what is and isn’t covered and whether any limits apply.
Your extras health insurance can cover the cost (up to the limits of your policy) of initial physiotherapy consultations, follow-up consultations, treatment plans and rehabilitation.
Some extras policies will also cover other physiotherapy treatments and products, like:
However, your physiotherapy appointment must be performed by an accredited physiotherapist or a recognised extras provider if you wish to claim a benefit from your health fund. As such, make sure you visit a physiotherapist that your insurance will cover.
The length of time you’ll have to wait to claim for your physiotherapy treatments depends on your health insurer and policy, as each insurer sets their own waiting periods for extras cover. However, physiotherapy typically has a two-month waiting period before you can claim benefits on your extras cover.2
Some policies may have longer waiting periods, while others may have no waiting period for physiotherapy on select policies, or run promotions that waive some waiting periods for extras. If you’ve already served your waiting period, you don’t have to do so again when switching policies, provided you maintain the same or lower level of cover.
As for how many physio sessions you can claim per year, the amount will vary from product to product. If you want to learn more, you should start shopping around.
Health insurance generally only covers physio treatment performed by a physiotherapist that’s accredited, qualified, allied or registered through the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Furthermore, some health insurers may encourage you to seek physiotherapy treatment through a provider that they have an arrangement with.
If this is the case, you should speak to your health fund about your physio treatment before making an appointment to ensure you’re getting the best value out of your policy.
The cost of physiotherapy depends on the type of treatment you receive and the clinic you visit.
We had a look at allied health pricing, provided by the government department Comcare, to give you a rough understanding of what physiotherapy might cost in each state per consultation, taking into account the nature of the treatment and experience of the physiotherapist.
This is only a guide; the cost of your physio may be different to the prices outlined below.
| Physio treatment/service | ACT | NSW | NT | QLD | SA | TAS | VIC | WA |
| Initial consultation and treatment* | $108-$163 | $129-$188 | $130-$163 | $124 | $103 | $103-$154 | $128 | $93 |
| Standard consultation and treatment* | $92-$138 | $88-$130 | $67-$84 | $97 | $86 | $82-$123 | $64 | $75-$94 |
| Complex treatment* | $183 | $204 | $196-$245 | N/A | $103 | $205 | $128 | N/A |
| Source: Australian Government Comcare – Rates for medical and allied health treatment. Updated August 2023. *Price range depending on whether the physiotherapist treats one or two areas, or whether a level 1 or level 2 physiotherapist performs the treatment. Rounded up to the nearest dollar. | ||||||||
The amount you can claim on your health insurance extras policy for physio services depends on your policy’s benefit type. The two benefit types are:
Your health insurance policy will provide coverage up to an annual limit, which is the maximum amount you can claim specifically for physio each year. Physiotherapy cover may also be subject to a group limit, which is when services are grouped together and you have a limit to use on any of them.
For example, say your policy groups physiotherapy, chiropractic and acupuncture with a $500 group limit. If you spend all $500 on chiropractic, you’ll reach your group limit and won’t have any money left to claim on physiotherapy or acupuncture services.
Your limits will be renewed each membership, financial or calendar year depending on your insurer, although some policies will also have lifetime limits that you may need to be aware of.
Swiping your insurance health care card through your physiotherapy clinic’s HICAPS machine is the quickest and easiest way to claim. Otherwise, after paying for your treatment, you can submit a claim to your health insurer to reimburse some of the costs; make sure you keep proof of payment handy (e.g. receipts).
Remember that you may need to pay for some costs out-of-pocket if your physio charges you more than your policy covers. These out-of-pocket expenses are also known as a gap payment. Check your policy brochure to determine how much your policy lets you claim on treatment.
Some health insurers may impose a time limit for extras claims, so don’t wait too long before submitting your claim.
Physiotherapy works by assessing your condition and treating your physical problems through body massage, joint manipulation and muscle stretches. This treatment can also help reduce the chances of future injuries and improve quality of life.
Some conditions that physiotherapy can potentially help treat include:3
Physiotherapy may involve multiple visits to the specialist. As a result, the costs can add up over time. Physiotherapy cover could help pay for regular physio treatments up to the limits of your policy.
Money aside, physiotherapy could do wonders for your quality of life. Physiotherapists have unique skills and clinical expertise to evaluate and educate people with chronic pain. With these skills, physios can guide patients through a supervised exercise program to help improve function and quality of life.
Alleviating pain and discomfort can be enormously valuable to many Australians, making these treatments very appealing.
You might want to consider purchasing health insurance if you regularly need to visit the physiotherapist. Physiotherapy cover could help pay for regular physio treatments, which you may need if you:
For example, let’s say you have some persistent tightness in your calf muscles after work. It’s not a medical emergency, but a quick consultation with a physio may provide a simple solution.
However, if the pain persists, you may need to have follow-up sessions, which you’ll have to pay the full cost for out of your pocket if you don’t have health insurance with physiotherapy cover.
Medicare generally doesn’t cover the costs of physiotherapy treatment performed at a private clinic. However, if you’re admitted to a public hospital as an inpatient, Medicare covers any physio treatment you receive in hospital.
Alternatively, Medicare can cover related physio treatments if you have a chronic illness with a Chronic Disease Management Plan, and your GP and at least two allied health professionals recommend physiotherapy.
As Head of Health, Life, and Income Protection Insurance at Compare the Market, Lana Hambilton is passionate about simplifying the comparison process and educating Australians about the value and benefits private health insurance can offer and the critical role it plays in our medical system. She firmly believes that health insurance provides choice in one of the most important aspects of life – our health – and has experienced countless cases over the years where peace of mind comes through the ability to choose when, where, and who will treat you.
Lana has 15 years’ experience in the health insurance and insurance comparison industries. She’s also a Board Member of the Private Health Insurance Intermediaries Association.
1 APRA, Quarterly Private Health Insurance Statistics. June 2023. (Accessed August 2023).
2 Commonwealth Ombudsman (Private Health Insurance Ombudsman) – Waiting periods for private health insurance. (Flyer – accessed August 2023).
3 HealthDirect – Physiotherapy: How can physiotherapy help me (Accessed August 2023).
