Health Insurance for Joint Fluid Replacement Injections

How we calculate Health Insurance Extras Finder Scores

Read full methodology

What different scores mean

9+

Excellent

Competitive pricing coupled with highly ranked extras.

7+

Great

Balanced pricing and features, offering overall good value.

5+

Standard

These products offer a balance between price and features.

0+

Basic

These products usually offer fewer extras or above average pricing.

Are Joint fluid replacement injections covered by health insurance?

The cost of joint fluid replacement injections is covered through extras health insurance, but only on a couple of policies. The benefit payment will assist in covering the costs of fluid injections to joints including the knee, hip and shoulder, such as visco-supplemental treatments.

What are joint fluid replacement injections?

Joint fluid replacement injections involve replacing damaged joint fluid from an area affected by osteoarthritis with something called hyaluronan. Hyaluronan is a natural substance found in the synovial fluid of your joints. This fluid cushions and lubricates joints and reduces friction. Brand names for this fluid you might be more familiar with include Synvisc, Durolane, and Osteoartz.

Are hyaluronic acid injections covered by Medicare?

Unfortunately, hyaluronic acid injections are not covered by Medicare under the government’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). This means that they can end up being quite expensive if no cover is provided by your private health insurer.

How much do knee injections (like Synvisc) cost?

The cost of knee injections for arthritis, without insurance, can be between $400 and $800, depending on the cost of your specialist appointments. The cost of the fluid itself can be in the $450-$600 range, but you'll also need to pay for your initial and subsequent consults/injections, which can be several hundred dollars each.

What are joint fluid replacement injections used to treat?

A joint fluid replacement injection eases the pain of osteoarthritis in a range of affected joints. These affected joints most commonly include the knee, hip and shoulder joints, but injections may be given to other parts of the body in some cases.

Osteoarthritis is caused by wear and tear on joints and results when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of bones breaks down. This cartilage can break off into small pieces and end up in the synovial fluid, causing swelling and irritation. Discomfort and pain soon follow, but joint fluid replacement injections can often help reduce these symptoms.

Although this treatment doesn’t reverse the effects of arthritis, it can alleviate pain and swelling in affected joints for several months. Not only can this greatly improve your quality of life on a day-to-day basis, but it can also help delay any need to undergo joint replacement surgery.

Joint fluid replacement injections can be used to treat osteoarthritis pain in a wide range of cases, so your doctor will advise you if this treatment is appropriate in your situation. If you require long-term management of osteoarthritis pain, your doctor may recommend that you undergo a course of injections more than once a year.

Are there any side effects?

While all medicines can potentially have side effects, some patients may experience them and others may not. Side effects associated with joint fluid replacement injections are generally quite rare but can include the following:

• Mild pain and swelling around the site of the injection, which usually goes away within a few days
• A rash or hives and itching
• Nausea
• Headaches and dizziness
• Muscle cramps and swelling
• Breathing difficulties
• Infection

Your doctor will be able to advise you about any potential side effects before beginning treatment. You should always seek medical attention if you experience any side effects after receiving a joint fluid replacement injection.

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Tim Bennett as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Richard Laycock

Editor

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. See full bio