Australian Open to Injury
Australia is currently in the grips of tennis fever. With the Australian open in full swing many may be inspired by the performance of the Aussie stars playing in the grand slam to try their hand at tennis, whether it be recreationally or for competition.
Although having a regular game of tennis can be a great way to stay healthy, for an unlucky few it could potentially trigger injuries such as ‘tennis elbow’ (muscle or tendon damage in the forearm), frozen shoulder and other, more general sports related injuries. Whether they be new, existing or recurring, one of the more common ways to treat the pain of sporting injuries and stay in the game, will be to pay a visit to the physiotherapist.
The need for repeated or prolonged physiotherapy treatments can often create a financial burden for households and individuals as at present, physiotherapy is classified as an ancillary service and as such, options for claiming such services on Medicare is limited to individuals who are eligible for the Enhanced Primary Care program, patients whom have chronic or complex care needs.
Private health insurance can, however, ease the financial pressure that repeated or prolonged physiotherapy treatments can cause. All of the major private health funds in Australia allow individuals or families to claim a number of physiotherapy treatments under general treatment, or extras cover.
Whether it be a standard option as a part of a comprehensive health insurance package, or as an added option in a more customisable health insurance budget package, there are options available for most consumers.
Many Australian private health funds will also allow the consumer to tailor their private health package to focus on a particular set of services, thus further increasing the value provided by membership, especially for those who require additional treatments such as chiropractic treatment or podiatry.
So regardless of whether you are a budding champion or just a recreational player, spending a little time to consider private health cover or re-evaluate your plan can help you rest assured and focus on your game.