Does Private Health Insurance Cover Chiropractic in Australia?

If you have extras cover and have been putting off seeing a chiropractor because you are not sure what it will cost, this is worth reading. Chiropractic is one of the most commonly claimed allied health services in Australia, and there is a good chance your policy already covers it.

Private Health Insurance Extras Cover

Chiropractic is included under extras cover, not hospital cover. If your policy has an extras component, there is a reasonable chance chiropractic is listed. Most major funds including Medibank, Bupa, HCF, NIB, and HBF include chiropractic under their extras policies. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, chiropractic is the second most claimed allied health service in Australia, behind only physiotherapy, with over 9 million claims processed annually.

The rebate amount depends on your fund, your specific policy, and your annual limit. Every fund is different, so it is worth logging into your health fund app or calling them directly to check. The key things to ask are whether chiropractic is included, what the rebate per visit is, and how much of your annual limit you have remaining.

At BodySync Chiropractic in Stirling, we have HICAPS available, which means you swipe your health fund card at the end of your appointment and only pay the gap on the spot. No forms, no waiting for a reimbursement.

What About Medicare?

Standard chiropractic visits are not covered by Medicare. However, if you have a chronic condition that has been present for six months or more, your GP may be able to refer you under a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan. This gives you access to up to five Medicare-subsidised allied health visits per calendar year, which can include chiropractic. The rebate per visit is currently $61.80. If you think you might be eligible, speak to your GP about whether a care plan is appropriate for your situation.

Note that as of 1 July 2025, the structure of these plans has been updated. The previous requirement to see two different allied health providers has been removed, meaning your GP can now refer all five sessions to a single provider if that is what suits your care needs best.

A Few Things Worth Knowing

Most extras policies include an annual limit for chiropractic. Once that is reached, you pay full price until the limit resets at the start of the calendar year. Some policies also have waiting periods, so if you have recently started a new policy or upgraded your cover, it is worth checking whether you need to wait before you can claim.

You do not need a referral to see a chiropractor under private health insurance. Just book, come in, and we take care of the claiming on the day.

Ready to Come In?

If you have been sitting on a complaint and wondering whether you can afford to get it looked at, there is a good chance your extras cover will take care of a portion of the cost. At BodySync Chiropractic in Stirling, we see patients across the full musculoskeletal system, from neck and back pain to shoulder, hip, and knee complaints, using hands-on techniques including spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy, dry needling, and much more. Book online or give us a call on (08) 9274 5615 and we will help you figure out the rest.

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