Can I use health insurance for stroke treatment? 

For the 440,000+ Australians living with the impact of stroke, recovery can be a long journey. Rehabilitation after stroke is different for everyone, depending on how your brain is affected and how severe the stroke was. Here’s how Private Health Insurance can help with the costs of recovery after a stroke. 

Your initial treatment will mostly likely take place in a public hospital, either as an inpatient or outpatient, which means it will be covered by Medicare. But once you are receiving treatments and services from private facilities, or allied health professionals outside a public hospital (especially for longer-term care), some of your costs may be claimable on health insurance, depending on your policy limits and conditions. 

Does Hospital Cover health insurance cover stroke treatment? 

There are 2 Hospital Cover categories that apply to stroke treatment: 

• Brain and Nervous System, which is included on Bronze, Silver or Gold tiers of Hospital Cover 

• Rehabilitation, which is included on all policies and covers admission to private rehabilitation facilities. But if your policy is Basic, Bronze or Silver tier, cover may be restricted, which could mean you’ll have out-of-pocket costs. 

What are the different tiers of Hospital Cover and what treatments do they include?

Does Extras Cover health insurance cover stroke rehabilitation? 

These are some of the treatments and services covered by Extras Cover that may support your recovery from stroke. Check with your insurer about what waiting periods and limits apply. 

Keep in mind that Private Health Insurance is not your only option. If your GP creates a Chronic Disease Management Plan for you, Medicare will subsidise up to 5 sessions a year with allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists and speech therapists. And if you’re significantly disabled by stroke, you may be eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which means some stroke treatments and services may be funded.  

Movement and physical strength 

To help your body become stronger and more mobile after a stroke, your doctor might recommend: 

• Exercise Physiology

• Physiotherapy

These services are covered on many Extras policies. And if you join a gym to help you manage your condition, you may be able to claim back your gym membership cost (if your policy includes cover for Health Management/Healthy Lifestyle). Ask your insurer about the claim process, which may require a sign-off from a healthcare professional. 

Communication and daily routine support 

Your doctor may refer you to a speech therapist after a stroke, and you might also work with an occupational therapist to help you manage certain activities around the house, such as taking care of yourself and others. Both Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy are covered by Extras Cover. 

At-home care 

Depending on the severity of your stroke, you may need nurse visits to support your health and rehabilitation. Home Nursing is covered by some Extras policies. 

Mental health support 

If you’re struggling to process your emotions after a stroke, it might be helpful to work with a psychologist, which is covered on some types of Extras Cover. 

Which health insurance covers stroke? 

The easiest way to find the best health insurance policy for stroke treatment and support is to use a comparison calculator. At healthslips.com.au, our Calculator searches every policy on the market, to make sure you don’t miss out on the best deal for you. It’s free to use, and you don’t have to enter your contact details.  

Try the healthslips.com.au Calculator.

Trudie McConnochie

Writer and Researcher

Knowledge is power – that’s the guiding principle behind everything Trudie writes, and it’s a philosophy she brings to her work at healthslips.com.au. By breaking down complex information into easy-to-understand blogs and stories, she aims to empower Australians to make the best choices and an informed decision around private health insurance.

Trudie understands firsthand some of the complexity of private health insurance having moved to Australia from New Zealand and having to navigate a vastly different public healthcare system and health insurance structure.

Trudie holds a Bachelor of Communication Studies (journalism major) from the Auckland University of Technology.

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