Joint health

We have over 300 of them. And these little ball and sockets and human hinges are literally what hold us together. But often, we don’t give our joints any attention until they start to wear us down.

From preventing injury to understanding your knee replacement options, this is your home of information to help prevent or minimise joint pain.

Take care of your joints

What you do today matters tomorrow. Knowing what causes joint pain in the first place may help you understand how to prevent it. And did you know there are exercises you can do to strengthen your joints and foods you can eat to help fight inflammation? Take a look below to find out more.

 

Here’s how Medibank can support you and your joints

When it comes to taking care of your human hinges, prevention is the best policy. And did you know Medibank has a range of programs that may help keep your hips, knees and joints running smoothly?

 

 

Icon australian continent

parkrun

Even if you’re not a runner, we’ve got the run for you. Medibank is a proud supporter of parkrun. Walk, jog, run or volunteer every Saturday at a park near you. 

Find a parkrun near you.

display / nature / home-40 Created with Sketch.

Live Better at Home

From our hip mobility and stretching guide to Pilates for the whole family. Live Better at Home features plenty of tips you can follow to help keep you moving. No gym membership required. 

Visit Live Better at Home.

display / wellness / health-plan-40 Created with Sketch.

Extras cover

Use your cover to give your joints the attention they deserve. With extras, we’ll pay benefits towards services such as osteo, physio and remedial massage, depending on your level of cover.

Find a provider near you.

Is joint pain holding you back?

Nothing makes us feel old, quite like our joints can. If you’re experiencing any kind of pain or stiffness in your body you may be wondering what may be causing it, how you can relieve it and when it might be time to seek professional help? 

 

Featured article image

How Medibank can help manage your chronic knee pain

From physio visits to surgery cover, Medibank members can access a range of treatment options to manage osteoarthritis knee pain.

Make the most of your cover

Don’t let joint pain stop you being you. With Medibank, you can access a range of programs and services that may help you better manage your pain.

 

 

display / research / clipboard-40 Created with Sketch.

Complimentary health checks

Members with Hospital and Extras cover can chat to a registered nurse over the phone to help you set appropriate health goals and recommendations for tests or services based on your needs.

Find out more about health checks.

display /general / emergency-40 Created with Sketch.

24/7 Medibank Nurse Support

Members with health insurance can speak to a registered nurse about their health concerns any time at no extra cost.* Chat online or call 1800 644 325, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Better Hip and Better Knee, Better Me

We offer support programs and research trials designed for eligible members with painful hip or knee osteoarthritis. Contact us on 1300 733 338 to find out if you're eligible.

Learn more about osteoarthritis.

display / wellness / health-plan-40 Created with Sketch.

Extras cover

With extras cover, we’ll pay benefits towards services that may help treat pain including remedial massage, physiotherapy, osteopathy and visits to a chiropractor or dietitian, depending on your level of cover.

Find a provider near you.

The support you need, when you need it most.    

With Medibank, you can access a range of programs and services that may help you better manage or even reduce your symptoms of osteoarthritis.

 

 

Better Knee, Better Me

We deliver a program that helps eligible members with knee osteoarthritis reduce their pain, improve quality of life and lower the chances of requiring joint replacement surgery.

Check your eligibility for Better Knee, Better Me.

Better Hip

Members with painful hip osteoarthritis may be eligible to participate in a new research trial, developed by the University of Melbourne.

Check your eligibility for Better Hip.

display /general / emergency-40 Created with Sketch.

24/7 Medibank Mental Health Support

Members with health insurance can talk to a mental health professional over the phone or online in relation to mental health or emotional concerns at no extra cost.* Chat online or call 1800 644 325, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

display / wellness / health-plan-40 Created with Sketch.

Extras cover

With extras cover, we’ll pay benefits towards services that may help treat pain including remedial massage, physiotherapy, osteopathy and visits to a chiropractor or dietitian, depending on your level of cover.

Find a provider near you.

Hear from a program participant

Leanne shares the impact that knee osteoarthritis had on her quality of life. Hear about her experience working with her Better Knee, Better Me dietitian and physiotherapist to assist in managing her chronic knee pain, all while travelling the country in a caravan.

Osteoarthritis

This common condition affects 1 in 11 Australians. If you’d like to know what the signs of osteoarthritis are? Or perhaps you’re someone who is living with it and would like information on what you can do to help ease the pain? We have information that may be able to help.

 

Your cover is here to support you

Considering joint replacement surgery? Your cover is here for you. Take a look at some of the ways Medibank can help support you before, during and after your hospital stay.

 

 

display / treatment / hospital-40 Created with Sketch.

No Gap Joint Replacement Program

Eligible members may be able to pay no out-of-pocket costs** on a wide range of medical services as part of a hospital admission for elective surgery for a joint replacement. Depending on your type of cover, an excess or co-payment may still be payable.

Find out more about No Gap Joint Replacement program or request a call back with our Customer Health Support Team

display / nature / home-40 Created with Sketch.

Rehab at Home

Eligible members can receive care from a registered health professional in the comfort of their own home, where clinically appropriate.^^

Find out more about Rehab at Home.

display /general / emergency-40 Created with Sketch.

24/7 Medibank Health Support

Members with health insurance can chat with a mental health professional or registered nurse with Medibank 24/7 Nurse Support and 24/7 Medibank Mental Health Support at no extra cost.* Chat online or call 1800 644 325, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

display / treatment / nurse-40 Created with Sketch.

Health Concierge

Our Health Concierge service provides health support to help eligible Medibank members with hospital cover prepare for, or recover from, a hospital stay or treatment. Call 1800 789 414 to speak to Health Concierge between 9am – 4pm Eastern Standard Time.

Joint replacement surgery and recovery

Did you know hip and knee are the most common joint replacement surgeries in Australia and fall under the category of major surgeries? If you need a joint replacement, it’s understandable you may have questions about the process. What is the recovery time? And what can and can’t I do after? Take a look below for some answers that may help.

 

Father hugs his daughter

Live Better, get rewarded

You can earn Live Better points that can be redeemed for rewards when you track your healthy actions, as an eligible Medibank member with hospital or extras cover.

Things you should know

# This health check service is being delivered by Amplar Health. Amplar Health is a business of Medibank Health Solutions Pty Limited (ABN 99 078 934 791), a member of the Medibank group of companies. Members must be +18 years and have both Hospital and Extras cover.

*Some referred services may involve out of pocket costs and waiting periods may apply.

^ Available to suitable Medibank members aged 45-80 with hospital cover that includes joint replacement surgery who have been experiencing chronic knee pain on most days for the past 3 months, are above a healthy weight (BMI≥27) and can access a telephone and internet.

** There may be out-of-pocket expenses associated with outpatient appointments, such as your initial visit with a participating surgeon in their consulting rooms. An excess or per day payment may still be payable, depending on the product a member has chosen and whether they are claiming under their hospital cover for the first time in a calendar year.

^^  For eligible hospital members who have served waiting periods. Treating doctor must consider it appropriate. Services are subject to provider availability. Providers are not located in all areas and may change without notice. Additional treatment may incur out-of-pocket costs.

~ Medibank Live Better Challenges & Goals Earning Policy: The participant of a Medibank Live Better Challenge or Goal may not receive Live Better points or may have their already credited Live Better points reversed in accordance with the Medibank Live Better terms and conditions. To earn Live Better points, the participant needs to properly complete 100% of the eligible Challenge according to the instructions. The number of Live Better points available for Medibank Live Better Challenges and Goals is subject to change without prior notice. The maximum number of Live Better points that each Medibank Live Better member can earn from successfully completing health and wellbeing Challenges, Goals or any Onboarding action in a calendar year is 40,000 Live Better points. To the extent of any inconsistency between this Policy and the Medibank Live Better terms and conditions, the terms and conditions will take precedence.