Can I use health insurance for kidney disease?

Most people don’t think about their kidneys much, but for the 246,200 Australians who are living with kidney disease, this pair of essential organs is very much front and centre. Living with kidney disease means your day-to-day life is organised around a lot of medical appointments and lifestyle adjustments. If you’re looking for health insurance for kidney disease, to help support you with some of the costs and challenges, here’s what you need to know. 

Health insurance Hospital Cover for kidney disease 

If you have chronic kidney disease and need dialysis, Private Health Insurance may cover your treatment and medication costs if you have Hospital Cover and you choose to be treated in a private hospital, or if you want to do dialysis at home. If you prefer to go to a public hospital, your dialysis treatment will be free under Medicare.  

For private dialysis treatment you’ll need to have Hospital Cover that includes Dialysis for Chronic Kidney Failure. It’s optional for insurers to include this in Basic, Bronze or Silver policies, but there aren’t a lot of policies that include this type of treatment at the lower levels (and there may be restrictions in Basic policies, which means large out-of-pocket costs). The only level of policy where you’re guaranteed to get Dialysis for Chronic Kidney Failure cover is Gold. Check with the insurer about what’s covered, and find out whether dialysis at home is an option. 

What are the tiers of Hospital Cover, and what do they cover?

Extras Cover for kidney disease 

Looking after yourself is essential if you have kidney disease, and Extras Cover can help support you with a healthier lifestyle, depending on the level of cover, policy limits and conditions of your policy. 

Nutrition 

According to Kidney Health Australia, eating a healthy diet can help you manage some of the symptoms of kidney disease. Plus, certain foods will need to be avoided when you’re on dialysis. If you need nutritional support from an accredited practising dietitian, you may be able to claim this on your Extras Cover, so long as your policy includes Dietetics/Dietary Advice. 

Exercise 

Kidney Health Australia recommends staying physically active to help manage kidney disease. If your Extras Cover includes Exercise Physiology, you can claim back the cost of sessions with an accredited exercise physiologist, who can guide you on a safe exercise routine (especially if you’re having dialysis). 

Emotional support 

Living with kidney disease can bring up a rollercoaster of emotions, so make sure you reach out for support if you need it. You can call the Beyond Blue helpline on 1300 22 4636 at any time to talk to someone for free, or if you need ongoing support, talk to your GP. If your GP puts you on a Mental Health Treatment Plan, you’ll get 10 sessions with a psychologist subsidised by Medicare. If you have Extras Cover, check to see whether you’re covered for Psychology – you can use this to cover the Gap between what the psychologist charges and what Medicare pays.  

Healthy Lifestyle 

If your Extras Cover includes the Health Management/Healthy Lifestyle category, you may be covered for classes and programs that support you to live well with kidney disease. This category might also include cover for your gym membership – if you meet certain conditions, such as exercising to manage kidney disease. Always check the policy conditions with your insurer. 

Which health insurance covers kidney disease? 

If you’re living with kidney disease, there’s a wide range of Private Health Insurance policies that will meet your needs and budget. If you don’t have cover already, visit the healthslips.com.au Calculator to find the best Hospital or Extras Cover policies for you. If you already have a health insurance policy but it isn’t meeting your needs, try comparing your existing policy against other suitable policies. 

Our calculator includes every health insurance policy in Australia without any bias, and you won’t have to enter any contact details to use it. We’re not selling insurance so you can be sure the results you get are truly impartial. The healthslips.com.au Calculator will help you find the best policy for based on your needs and budget. 

Find out more about the healthslips.com.au Calculator and how to calculate your cheapest health insurance in 3 steps.  

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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