Here are some extras health insurance polices from Finder partners with physiotherapy cover. They all have a 2 month waiting period. They also include other benefits such as dental, optical or chiro.
Standard cover (a varied mix of hospital
treatments)
Comprehensive cover for most treatments
Pregnancy and childbirth
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Preventative & general dental
Major dental & implants
Optical
Physiotherapy
Podiatry
Non-PBS pharmaceuticals
Chiropractic
Emergency ambulance
Remedial massage
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How much is physiotherapy without insurance?
Physiotherapists will charge you per appointment, depending on the appointment type. Some treatments will require only a single appointment, but you'll generally need to visit a physio on multiple occasions for most issues. The table below lists some common appointment types and typical costs from Australian physios.
Appointment Type
Typical price
Initial Consultation
$100 - $150
Standard Consultation
$80 - $130
Group Physiotherapy
$25 - $42
Remedial Massage
$100 - $140
Taping Only
$20 - $35
What amount will I be able to claim back?
Depending on the health fund and extras policy you choose, your benefit amount for physio services may be calculated in the following ways.
Set benefit. This means that your rebate will take the form of a fixed dollar amount for claims on eligible services, such as $40 or $50.
Percentage benefit. Alternatively, your rebate may be calculated as a percentage of the total fee charged for the service, for example 50% or 75%.
It is also worth remembering that an annual limit will apply to the maximum rebate you are able to claim per person. Luckily, your extras benefits reset each year.
What physiotherapy expenses are covered?
Health funds cover physio on extras policies, although the benefit amounts provided will depend on the level of cover you choose. For example, a basic extras policy may only provide limited benefits or even exclude physio altogether. However, if included an extras policy will generally cover the physio-related services listed below.
Initial and follow-up consultations.
The development of a treatment plan.
Pilates or hydrotherapy.
Antenatal exercise classes.
Compression recovery items.
Rehabilitation.
Be aware that there are certain physio-related items that are not commonly covered by private health funds. These can include foam rollers, trigger balls and sports tape. Also keep in mind that services and items that can be claimed may differ between health funds and individual extras cover, so make sure to compare the features of each policy closely before making a purchase.
Does Medicare cover any physiotherapy services?
For most out-of-hospital physiotherapy, Medicare does not provide cover, so you'll need to cover the cost either out-of-pocket or with private health insurance. However, there are 2 situations where Medicare can provide benefits for physio-related treatment - during public hospital admittance, and for chronic disease management:
Public hospital admittance. Medicare provides some benefits for public hospital patients who need inpatient physio treatment or rehabilitation.
Chronic Disease Management program (CDM). Medicare may also cover certain physio-related services if they are part of a CDM recommended by at least two allied health professionals and a GP. Eligible chronic diseases can include arthritis, diabetes, cancer, stroke and musculoskeletal conditions.
How much does health insurance cost?
We ask hundreds of Australians what they're paying for health insurance every month. Here's what they told us in April 2024.
Basic: $116
Bronze: $143
Silver: $168
Gold: $209
Price based on 1,000+ responses for single hospital insurance.
Why you can trust Finder's health insurance experts
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Since 2014, we've helped 350,000+ people find health insurance by explaining your options simply. We'll never ask for your number or email to see prices. We're here to help you make a decision.
Frequently asked questions
To cover physiotherapy you'll need extras health insurance. You can get an extras policy that covers physio from as little as around $3 per week. More expensive policies will generally offer a larger benefit for each visit and a larger annual limit.
The cost of physiotherapy without insurance varies depending on the type of appointment, but expect to pay between $90 and $150 for a typical visit.
Medicare only covers physiotherapy during a public hospital visit, or to manage chronic disease management. For most out-of-hospital physiotherapy services, such as sports physio, Medicare does not provide a benefit.
Pensioners may be able to get cheaper services from some clinics - eg Total Physiotherapy charges just $85 for both initial and subsequent consultations to pension card holders.
No matter how active you are or what life stage you are at, there are plenty of reasons why you might be able to benefit from private health insurance cover for physiotherapy:
If you have developed a movement disorder of any kind.
If you are restricted by a chronic illness.
If you are recovering from an injury.
If you play a sport with a risk of physical injury.
.
There are several ways you can claim physiotherapy on your health insurance, but keep in mind that your health fund may not offer all of the following claim options.
On the spot. Use your membership card to submit your claim electronically through HICAPS when you visit your physio.
Online. Use your health fund's online claims service to submit the details of your claim, including a receipt from your physio.
Via an app. Many health funds offer claims apps that allow you to submit a photo of your receipt and claim.
Via email, fax or post. Fill out a claims form, attach a copy of your receipt and email, fax or post it to your health fund.
In person. If your fund operates bricks and mortar branch, visit one of these in person to submit your receipt and claim.
Richard Laycock is Finder’s insights editor after spending the last five years writing and editing articles about insurance. His musings can be found across the web including on MoneyMag, Yahoo Finance and Travel Weekly. Richard studied Media at Macquarie University and The Missouri School of Journalism and has a Tier 1 Certification in General Advice for Life Insurance.
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