Hidden cover in Private health insurance
Hi folks, I'm more than half expecting this entry to get censored(after all this site is sponsored by a health insurance provider). But I really feel the need to say this. Did you know there is Therapy support hidden in your private health insurance? The Health insurance brochures/benefits statement etc. and the people on the insurance phone support lines don't mention this, and when I rang to ask about it because what the hospital was telling me sounded too good to be true. I got told in no uncertain terms that what I was asking about did not exist. But it certainly does exist, I'm using it. It appears that you have to get the rehab specialist and/or hospital to ask on your behalf. There is cover in my health insurance for over 100 outpatient rehabilitation clinic visits per year. This is part of the hospital cover, not extras and not medicare. So when they tell you there is no outpatient cover in your plan don't believe them. I'm getting botox/spacticity, gait assessment and PT covered as the rehab specialist has prescribed them.
I had to get a GP referral to the rehab specialist first, but there's been no out of pocket cost since then.
I wish I'd found out about this a few years ago I stopped official therapy once I was deemed functionally independent by the public hospital. I asked at the time if there was a way to get more help/therapy as I was not satisfied with quite a few of my physical deficits. And when I was told no, I setup my own training/recovery program using a private neurophysio and personal trainers (who I had to teach how to help me) and it cost me many $s and still does ( I get some assists from extras health cover, but that doesn't come near to making it affordable.)
I guess it helps that I'm starting this new hospital outpatient program with more skills and strength than I had when I first asked about doing more so I'll get more from it now than I would have then, but where would I be at now if I'd had this help earlier?