Hyperbaric oxygen therapy insurance coverage

Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy covered by insurance?

Find out if you are covered for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Below, we look at the details of health insurance coverage in various situations with both Medicare and private health.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy insurance coverage explained

Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy covered by insurance or Medicare?

Does Medicare cover hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

You might wonder if Medicare covers hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) and the answer is ‘yes, but…’ It depends on the condition you need it for.

Currently, Medicare covers hyperbaric oxygen treatment for these medical conditions:

Soft tissue radiation injuries
Prevention and treatment of osteoradionecrosis
Diabetic wounds
Decompression illness
Gas gangrene
Air or gas embolism
Necrotising soft tissue infections such as necrotising fasciitis or fourniers gangrene.

Does private insurance cover hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is covered by most private health insurers in Australia, however it depends on the condition being treated. Please speak to your insurer and make sure you have a good understanding of what is included and excluded. Important questions to ask your health fund are:

Does my policy cover me for this admission?
Do I have an “excess” or daily “co-payments” on my policy that are required to be paid before or during my treatment?
Does my policy exclude or restrict payment for hyperbaric treatment?

If my condition is not covered by Medicare or my private health fund, can I still come and see you?

Wesley Hyperbaric follows the guidelines and approved indication list that is distributed and followed by the internationally recognised UHMS. If the indication is listed by UHMS, but not covered by Medicare or your private health fund, we can treat you out of pocket. Please contact Wesley Hyperbaric to get an estimation of cost.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy cost

What will it cost?

As previously mentioned, Medicare and most private health funds cover the cost of HBOT for certain medical conditions.

Self-insured patients

Please contact our administration staff prior to your admission for an estimate of fees and charges. It is important that you understand that this is an estimate only. In the event of unforeseen complications or variations from the proposed treatment, the fees payable may vary. Total payment (other than any ancillary charges) must be made on or prior to your admission.

International patients

If you are insured with an overseas company, you will be asked to pay the estimated cost on the day of, or prior to your admission. Please contact our administration staff prior to your admission for an estimate of fees and charges.

Costs not included as part of hospital charges:

Other doctors who become involved in your care
Pharmacy
Diagnostic imaging

If you are unsure about your eligibility, please call Wesley Hyperbaric and talk to our friendly administration staff to learn more about fees and charges.

Your journey starts with these 3 steps

Step 1

Once you have your referral from your GP or specialist, contact our Brisbane clinic to book a consultation with one of our doctors.

Step 2

If you are eligible for HBOT, your treatment plan is scheduled and your HBOT journey can start.

Step 3

When you have completed your hyperbaric sessions, your condition is reassessed by one of our doctors.