Health Conditions

Back pain can be debilitating, and it’s an issue experienced by around 4 million Australians, according to data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Sometimes back pain is treated with surgery, such as spinal fusion or spinal disc replacement, but in many other cases a combination of less intensive treatments are recommended. Here’s...

Just a few decades ago cosmetic surgery was relatively uncommon, but it has had a big increase in Australia in the past 10 years. In fact, according to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, more cosmetic procedures are done per capita in Australia than in the USA. And 2023 research from...

Almost half of Australian adults experience sleep problems regularly, and if you or a family member is one of them, there are treatments available. The good news is that some treatments for sleep apnoea and other sleep issues are covered by health insurance.   Does health insurance cover sleep studies? A sleep study is where you’re observed as...

Has your doctor recommended sinus surgery, or another nasal procedure such as septoplasty or turbinate reduction? All of these ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeries are subject to long waiting times in the public hospital system in Australia. If breathing problems, recurring sinus issues and sleeping problems are having a serious impact on your life,...

If you’re living with diabetes, your doctor may have recommended devices such as insulin pumps or glucose monitors to help you manage your health. If you don’t qualify for government funding, some of these devices can be a high ongoing cost. Currently in Australia, insulin pumps are only subsidised for people with type 1 diabetes...

Hearing aids can make a world of difference if you’re experiencing hearing impairment, but unfortunately, they aren’t cheap to buy or get fitted. The Australian government subsidises the cost of hearing aids for certain people, but if you don’t qualify, you may be able to claim some of the cost on private health insurance. So,...

If you need a colonoscopy in Australia, you could face a long wait. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, people waited between 133 and 197 days for a non-urgent colonoscopy in a public hospital in 2022 (between 4 and 6 months). For faster treatment, you might be wondering if you can go...

There’s no two ways about it – braces are expensive. If you, or your child, might need braces in the near future, you might be wondering whether taking out health insurance for braces is worthwhile. Here, we crunch the numbers. Are braces covered by health insurance? Yes, braces are covered by health insurance – but only on...