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Natural Therapies

Reviewed and updated 1 April 2024

Natural Therapies and private health insurance

What is a Natural Therapy?

A Natural Therapy is a complementary or alternative therapy used to diagnose, treat and prevent illness, including:

  • Acupuncture
  • Aromatherapy
  • Ayurveda
  • Bowen Therapy
  • Chinese Medicine
  • Homeopathy
  • Kinesiology
  • Myotherapy
  • Naturopathy
  • Nutrition
  • Reflexology
  • Remedial Massage
  • Shiatsu
  • Tibetan Medicine
  • Traditional Thai Massage
  • Western Herbal Medicine.

In other words, Natural Therapies are treatments that fall outside conventional or mainstream medicine. 

Natural Therapy is not a registered health profession. Instead, the Australian Traditional Medicine Society and the Australian Natural Therapists Association set the standards for membership.

Are Natural Therapies covered by private health insurance?

At present, private insurers can cover only some Natural Therapies. These include:

Many people seek treatments that complement mainstream medicine so insurers usually offer some or all of these therapies as part of Extras Cover. 

Check your Extras Cover to find out whether it includes any Natural Therapies.

What Natural Therapies are private health insurers currently prohibited from covering?

Private health insurers in Australia currently cannot offer cover for these 16 Natural Therapies:

  1. Alexander Technique
  2. Aromatherapy
  3. Bowen Therapy
  4. Buteyko
  5. Feldenkrais
  6. Homeopathy
  7. Iridology
  8. Kinesiology
  9. Naturopathy
  10. Pilates
  11. Reflexology
  12. Rolfing
  13. Shiatsu
  14. Tai Chi
  15. Western Herbalism
  16. Yoga.

Why are private health insurers prohibited from covering these 16 Natural Therapies?

The Government decided there was not enough evidence proving these therapies were clinically effective after a review by the Department of Health and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) during 2014-2015. 

From 1 April 2019, the Government prohibited private health insurers from covering them.

Does Medicare cover Natural Therapies?

No. Medicare does not cover any Natural Therapies. 

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