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Must be 16 years or over to register for Medibank Live Better rewards in the My Medibank app. Some program partners and earning activities require a person to be at least 18 years of age to be eligible to earn and/or redeem a reward. Must be a Medibank member with hospital cover, extras cover, or hospital and extras cover, and be up-to-date with premium payments. Excludes Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), Ambulance only cover, ahm covers and other selected covers. Live Better Management Pty Ltd, ACN 003 457 289 has entered into commercial arrangements with Medibank Live Better program partners and may receive commissions. Please choose carefully as rewards will not be amended, cancelled, exchanged or refunded due to change of mind. Points earning activities and rewards are subject to change without prior notice and may be subject to availability. Additional terms and conditions may apply to points earning activities and rewards. See full Medibank Live Better rewards terms.
Written by Medibank
May 2023
Chronic knee pain is a common and often debilitating symptom of osteoarthritis, which occurs when the cartilage around your joints breaks down.
While there is no cure for osteoarthritis, there are treatments available to manage the symptoms. If you have private health insurance with Medibank, here’s how we might be able to help.
Talk to your doctor about an osteoarthritis diagnosis
If you’re suffering from chronic knee pain and are concerned you might have osteoarthritis, your first step should be to visit your GP. They can assess and discuss your symptoms and, if necessary, refer you to a specialist.
While your private health insurance won’t pay benefits towards a GP visit, Medicare pays for or subsidises GP appointments for Australian residents.
Seek help from a physio for knee pain
A physiotherapist can help you manage pain associated with your condition through targeted exercises and, in some cases, assistance with specialised equipment.
Depending on your level of extras cover, your insurance might be able to help with costs associated with your treatment. Most extras policies allow eligible Medibank members to claim between 55-100 per cent of the total bill for included services when choosing a Members’ Choice provider, up to your annual limit and subject to any waiting periods. You can check your remaining limits and submit a claim by logging into My Medibank or using the My Medibank app.
If your physiotherapist suggests using a TENS machine or other special equipment to help manage your knee pain, check to see what’s included in your extras cover.
Focus on exercises to build knee strength
Osteoarthritis can significantly affect the weight-bearing joints of the legs. Regular exercise is essential to keep the large muscles of your legs in good shape. Just remember to check with a health professional that the type of exercise you’re doing won’t aggravate your symptoms.
One good exercise to alleviate knee pain and build knee strength is Clinical Pilates. It focuses on posture, core stability, balance, control, strength, flexibility and breathing – all helpful in managing osteoarthritis. Clinical Pilates sessions are led by fully qualified physiotherapists who often provide individual treatment programs. If you have extras cover with physiotherapy, and Clinical Pilates is delivered by a registered physiotherapist, your private health insurance might help cover the cost of these classes.
You can also check out Medibank’s Live Better activities for fun social events to get your body moving. And, as an eligible Medibank member with hospital or extras cover, you can earn points that go towards rewards, simply for looking after your health. Download the Live Better app to get started.
Maintain a healthy diet and weight
Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is an important way to manage osteoarthritis symptoms, as it reduces the load and pressure on your knees. Even a few kilograms of weight loss can help to improve knee pain and function.
One way to manage your weight is through good nutrition. Start by planning your own meals and cooking for yourself; Medibank’s Live Better website has plenty of delicious healthy recipe ideas for you to try.
You might also choose to see a dietitian, who can prescribe you with tailored nutrition advice. Check your cover to see if you can claim benefits towards consultations with a dietitian, up to annual limits and subject to any waiting periods.
Better Knee, Better Me
This 12-month program combines personalised plans for exercise, weight loss and pain management that aims to help eligible members better manage painful knee osteoarthritis and help reduce the impact it has on their quality of life. Clinical and product eligibility criteria apply.
Find a suitable osteoarthritis program
No matter where you are on your osteoarthritis journey, Medibank has a program that can help:
- Better Knee, Better Me. Medibank’s Better Knee, Better Me program supports eligible members~ with a personalised exercise, weight loss and pain management program, aimed at lowering the need for joint replacement surgery.
- No Gap Joint Replacement Program. To help eligible members reduce out-of-pocket costs for joint replacement surgery^, Medibank has rolled out the No Gap Joint Replacement program at participating hospitals, with participating surgeons.
- Rehab at Home. Rehab at Home is giving members more choice and flexibility about where they receive treatment after joint replacement surgery.*
Seek expert health advice
All Medibank health insurance members can chat to a registered nurse with 24/7 Medibank Nurse Support on 1800 644 325 or by logging into My Medibank at no extra cost.Δ
Everyone’s needs change, which is why a health cover review can help you find the right level of cover. This could be more claimable services or even a higher claiming limit. Waiting periods may apply when changing your cover, but for more information you can chat to our friendly staff who are always available to help 24/7.
Does hip pain stop you being you?
Join the University of Melbourne’s research trial, which explores ways to reduce pain and improve the wellbeing of people with hip osteoarthritis. Clinical and product eligibility criteria apply.
Read more about joint pain
Looking for something else?
Visit Joint health for more information.
~ 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.
* Must have eligible hospital cover, all relevant waiting periods must have been served and treating doctor must consider it appropriate. Out of pocket expenses may apply. Chemotherapy, palliative, infusion and dialysis program not available in all areas.
Δ Some referred services may involve out-of-pocket costs.
While we hope you find this information helpful, please note that it is general in nature. It is not health advice, and is not tailored to meet your individual health needs. You should always consult a trusted health professional before making decisions about your health care. While we have prepared the information carefully, we can’t guarantee that it is accurate, complete or up-to-date. And while we may mention goods or services provided by others, we aren’t specifically endorsing them and can’t accept responsibility for them. For these reasons we are unable to accept responsibility for any loss that may be sustained from acting on this information (subject to applicable consumer guarantees).