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Health insurance for kidney dialysis
If you need kidney dialysis, private health insurance and Medicare can both help with the costs. Compare health funds offering the cover you need from just $40 per week.
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What you need to know
Gold level policies cover dialysis for chronic kidney failure, along with some silver policies.
Policies start at about $160 and all have a 12-month waiting period, so consider buying now if you have chronic kidney failure.
Medicare can cover kidney dialysis, but the current benefit for home dialysis is just $130.85 (for up to 12 claims per year).
How much is private health insurance with cover for kidney dialysis?
Below you can find sample quotes from Finder partner funds. All policies include treatments for chronic kidney failure. All prices are based on a single individual with less than $90,000 income and living in Sydney.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Compare prices from 30+ Aussie funds in under 30 seconds.
What is a kidney dialysis?
A kidney dialysis is a type of treatment that's used when a patient develops end-stage kidney failure. Dialysis helps to return the body to balance by preventing waste, salt and water from building up in the body. It also helps to maintain a safe level of chemicals in your blood and helps to control blood pressure.
How can I cover the cost of chronic kidney disease and dialysis treatment?
There are a number of ways for you to potentially receive benefits for chronic kidney disease and dialysis, both through the public and private health systems.
Medicare Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDM). If you are suffering from kidney disease for six months or more and require ongoing, structured care, your GP may suggest a CDM plan, and you may be eligible for rebates to cover the ongoing cost of your treatment.
Below you can see the various types of dialysis treatment and surgical procedures covered by Medicare.:
Dialysis for chronic renal failure
Haemodialysis
Haemofiltration
Haemoperfusion
Peritoneal dialysis
Surgical procedures
Explorative kidney surgery
Private health insurance. The amount of cover you receive for kidney related treatments will depend on how comprehensive your hospital insurance is:
Top hospital policies must pay a benefit for all procedures covered under the MBS, which includes dialysis.
Medium hospital policies may include dialysis treatment and renal surgery but will only pay a restricted benefit.
Basic hospital cover generally excluded dialysis treatment and renal surgery.
You can use the table below as a quick reference for seeing which levels of health insurance fully and partially cover, or exclude, kidney related treatments:
Kidney treatment
Top hospital
Medium hospital
Basic hospital
Dialysis for chronic renal failure:
Haemodialysis
Haemofiltration
Haemoperfusion
Peritoneal dialysis
This policy type should always include cover
May be partially covered with a restricted benefit
Typically excluded
Surgical procedures:
Explorative kidney surgery
This policy type should always include cover
May be partially covered with a restricted benefit
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Frequently asked questions
Chronic kidney disease can often go undetected in the early stages due to lack of or few symptoms. Some symptoms are indicative of kidney failure, while other symptoms such as high blood pressure can be confused with other conditions. Symptoms can include:
Kidney pain
High blood pressure
Headaches
Swelling in the legs and ankles
Change in the frequency and appearance of urination
Bad breath and a metallic taste in the mouth
Disturbed sleep and tiredness
Appetite loss and problems concentrating
Chronic kidney disease has five stages. Stages one to three can be managed with medication, while stage five is the most severe and requires a kidney transplant or ongoing dialysis treatment.
Disease progression
Physiological changes
Physical symptoms
Stage 1
No decrease in GFR*
No symptoms
Stage 2
Small reduction in GFR*
Defects in other organ systems
High blood pressure
Usually no symptoms
Stage 3
Significant reduction in GFR*
Defects in other organ systems
High blood pressure
Increase in proteins in urine
In some cases no symptoms
Stage 4
Significant reduction in function of kidneys
Defects in other organ systems
High blood pressure
Significant increase in proteins in urine
Abnormal function of organ systems
Stage 5
Kidney failure
Abnormal function of organ systems, fatigue, swelling, change of skin colour
*GFR: Glomerular Filtration Rate is an indicator used to measure kidney function.
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Chronic kidney disease treatments vary based on the severity of the condition. However, patients suffering end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) will require kidney replacement therapy (KRT). Haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are two types of KRT treatments:
Haemodialysis. Although this can be done at home with assistance, haemodialysis is generally carried out at a medical facility. A patient's blood is filtered using an external machine and transferred back into the body. Patients requiring this type of treatment may be required to visit a hospital or clinic multiple times per week and the procedure can last up to six hours each session.
Peritoneal dialysis. This type of dialysis is performed in the home and can be done by the patient. Unlike haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis filters the patient's blood using PD fluid in the stomach. Two types of peritoneal dialysis exist:
Home continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), which is performed during the day.
Home automated peritoneal dialysis (APD), which is performed overnight while the patient is asleep.
Early access to preserved superannuation is available in the event of financial hardship. Superannuation savings can help pay for the cost of chronic kidney disease treatment if:
You have been receiving Centrelink benefits for six months or longer and you can no longer pay your living expenses.
You need your superannuation to cover loan payments so you can keep your home.
You require palliative care resulting from chronic kidney disease.
If your superannuation fund includes benefit payments for total and permanent disablement, you can claim these if your chronic kidney disease prevents you from returning to your regular job. You may also be able to claim a disability benefit lump sum if your chronic kidney disease reaches stages four or five and you have to stop work.
Additional sources of financial support may be available to you if you are undertaking home dialysis treatment. These include:
Water and electricity cost reimbursement from the state government.
Gary Ross Hunter is an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, news.com.au, The Telegraph, Explore Travel and Escape. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 1 General Insurance (General Advice) certification and a Kaplan Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146).
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