Natural Therapies

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. 

Are natural therapies covered by private health insurance?

At present, private insurers can cover only some natural therapies. These include:

• Acupuncture
• Alexander technique
• Chinese Medicine 
• Remedial Massage
• Naturopathy
• Pilates
• Shiatsu
• Tai chi
• Western herbal medicine
• Myotherapy
• Yoga.

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 natural therapies:

1. Aromatherapy
2. Bowen therapy
3. Buteyko
4. Feldenkrais
5. Homeopathy
6. Iridology
7. Kinesiology
8. Reflexology
9. Rolfing

Why are private health insurers prohibited from covering these natural therapies?

The government decided there was not enough evidence proving 16 natural 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.

In 2024, an independent review found there was sufficient evidence showing the effectiveness of 7 of these natural therapies, and recommended they be reinstated for health insurance cover. These 7 therapies were:

1. Alexander technique
2. Naturopathy
3. Pilates
4. Shiatsu
5. Tai chi
6. Western herbal medicine
7. Yoga

As of 1 July 2025, health insurers who choose to offer subsidies for these therapies are now permitted to do so. Some insurers have begun accepting claims for some of these therapies in 2026, but it depends on your insurer, the therapy and the therapist as to whether you can claim. We recommend contacting your insurer and your therapist for specific information.

As of July 2026, these insurers are accepting claims for some of the newly approved natural therapies (provided you meet your insurer’s criteria):

• ahm
• Bupa
• CBHS Health
• Peoplecare
• Westfund

Does Medicare cover natural therapies?

No. Medicare does not cover any natural therapies.