Best Health Insurance in Australia: the Top 5 health funds in 2025
April 29, 2025
Who are the top 5 health funds in Australia for 2024 based on benefits paid, hospital gap cover, member happiness and complaints?
Private podiatry cover in Australia is part of an extras health insurance policy that assists with the costs of podiatry services received outside of a hospital setting. It’s extremely helpful for people who need to manage all the expenses related to consultations, treatments, orthotics and rehabilitation required for their foot and lower-limb conditions. You can take out private podiatry cover as part of an extras policy, either on its own or combined with hospital cover. Remember that waiting periods, annual limits and other conditions might apply.
When weighing up your options for private podiatry insurance, be aware that there are usually different levels to choose from. In most cases, health funds offer the following three levels:
Basic extras cover is generally the most affordable option and is suitable for individuals and families with minimal needs. However, be aware that many health funds might not include podiatry in their most basic extras offering. If you do find one that covers podiatry services, it might only include a limited number of podiatry appointments every year. Also note that this level usually involves higher out-of-pocket expenses per claim compared to higher-level covers.
Mid-range podiatry cover has more extensive coverage than the most basic policies. It should have higher annual limits for podiatry appointments and might include other benefits for treatments like custom orthotics. Mid-range cover is a good match for those who need regular or ongoing foot care, or have moderate podiatry-related health issues.
Comprehensive podiatry cover is the highest level of extras cover and includes generous rebates, higher annual limits and much more extensive inclusions for podiatric treatments and services. This option is most suitable for people with chronic podiatric health issues or those who frequently need treatments and specialist podiatric care. While it’s more expensive than the other options, comprehensive cover will greatly reduce your out-of-pocket costs for extensive treatment needs.
When weighing up your options for private podiatry insurance, be aware that there are usually different levels to choose from. In most cases, health funds offer the following three levels:
Basic extras cover is generally the most affordable option and is suitable for individuals and families with minimal needs. However, be aware that many health funds might not include podiatry in their most basic extras offering. If you do find one that covers podiatry services, it might only include a limited number of podiatry appointments every year. Also note that this level usually involves higher out-of-pocket expenses per claim compared to higher-level covers.
Mid-range podiatry cover has more extensive coverage than the most basic policies. It should have higher annual limits for podiatry appointments and might include other benefits for treatments like custom orthotics. Mid-range cover is a good match for those who need regular or ongoing foot care, or have moderate podiatry-related health issues.
Comprehensive podiatry cover is the highest level of extras cover and includes generous rebates, higher annual limits and much more extensive inclusions for podiatric treatments and services. This option is most suitable for people with chronic podiatric health issues or those who frequently need treatments and specialist podiatric care. While it’s more expensive than the other options, comprehensive cover will greatly reduce your out-of-pocket costs for extensive treatment needs.
Wondering about who can benefit from private podiatry cover? Private podiatry cover is for anyone who wants to take the stress out of managing all the costs of podiatric care. It’s particularly useful for:
Your podiatry claim limits will depend on your policy type and health insurer. Benefits are structured as either a percentage rebate or a set dollar amount per visit. Your policy will most likely have annual limits, which are the maximum amounts you can claim within a year for podiatry treatments, as well as potentially lifetime limits. For example, a $400 annual limit means once you reach this threshold, you can’t claim any further podiatric services that year.
Some health funds also have combined annual limits, where podiatry is grouped with other services like physiotherapy or chiropractic treatments. Make sure you read your policy in detail to confirm these limits.
Extras policies will usually impose a two-month waiting period for podiatry services. However, if you switch from another insurer where you’ve already served the waiting period for podiatry then you won’t need to serve it again. Just make sure you confirm the exact waiting periods with your health fund before starting any new treatments.
While Australians get to enjoy universal healthcare, that doesn’t include most allied health services like podiatry. That means you’ll need to take out podiatry extras cover from your preferred health insurer. The good news is that podiatry is included under extras cover for all major Australian health funds – so you’ll have plenty of options to choose from.
It’s important to be aware that podiatry surgery in hospital will only cover in-hospital expenses – not the cost of the podiatric surgeon. This is because podiatric surgeries are most commonly performed by orthopaedic surgeons, which falls under bone, joint and muscle rather than podiatric surgery. It’s something that regularly catches people out because they believe it needs to be covered under both the hospital and the extras, and that’s not the case. Podiatrists are not covered under the MBS to perform surgical procedures.
If you’re searching for the right podiatry insurance in Australia to match your needs, Fair Health Care Alliance is here to help. Our experienced advisors will evaluate your personal circumstances and give you direct comparisons of different podiatry cover policies. With the right private podiatry cover, you’ll get peace of mind knowing your foot health is well protected. Plus, your extras policy will include other beneficial services like dental, optical, physiotherapy and chiropractic care.
You can compare extras cover today to find the best options for maintaining your overall health and wellbeing.
At Fair Health Care, we understand that managing Podiatry health care expenses can feel overwhelming. But with the right insurance policy, you can ensure that you receive the Podiatry care you need without worrying about the costs. Our experienced advisors can assist you in evaluating your personal circumstances and requirements and finding a policy that suits your needs.
With private Podiatry cover in Australia, you can access a range of Podiatry services and treatments without breaking the bank. Plus, extras cover can also help you access a range of other services such as physiotherapy, chiropractic treatments, remedial massages, and optometry. Get in touch with us today to discover how we can support your search for health cover to help maintain your overall wellbeing!
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