Private health insurance rebates for Yoga and Yoga Therapy
As a registered Yoga Australia provider, I now have a recognised private health provider number, and some health funds have begun offering rebates for treatment-oriented yoga through selected Extras policies.
At present, Yoga Australia lists the following participating funds:
• CBHS
• Queensland Country Health Fund
• see-u by HBF
• Phoenix Health Fund
• AHM
Whether you can claim will depend on your individual fund, your level of Extras cover and the particular requirements of your policy.
The Yoga Australia claim codes are:
700 – 1 on 1 therapy session, held in a yoga studio
701 – Maximum 8 people per class, held in a yoga studio
This means that if you see me for individual Yoga Therapy, attend my small therapeutic group classes, or do both, it is worth checking what may be available to you.
What to ask your health fund
I recommend contacting your health fund directly and saying something along the lines of:
“I attend yoga with a recognised Yoga Australia private health provider. My practitioner has a Yoga Australia provider number and uses item 700 for individual therapy sessions and item 701 for small-group sessions. Does my Extras policy provide a rebate for either of these services?”
If they don’t recognise those particular item numbers, you could also ask:
“Does my policy provide any benefit for yoga through a Health Management, preventative health or healthy lifestyle program?”
And importantly:
“Do I need a GP letter, referral or Health Management Program form before I can make a claim?”
If your health fund asks you to speak with your GP
Some health funds have a separate pathway where yoga can be supported as part of the management or prevention of a health condition. This may require a GP to recommend yoga as part of your health management plan.
If your fund tells you that this applies to your policy, you can let your GP know that you are attending therapeutic yoga/Yoga Therapy with a registered Yoga Australia provider and ask whether they are happy to provide the letter or complete the form your health fund requires.
It may be helpful to say:
“My health fund has advised that I may be able to claim for yoga as part of a Health Management Program if it is recommended for the management of my health condition. Would you be happy to provide the required recommendation or complete their form?”
Your health fund should be able to tell you exactly what documentation they require, so I recommend speaking with them before making a GP appointment.
If you are eligible to claim through my Yoga Australia provider number, I can provide you with an itemised electronic receipt showing the appropriate item number and my provider details.
This is still a developing area, with Yoga Australia continuing to work with additional private health insurers, so I’ll keep you updated as further funds and policies come on board.
If you do contact your fund and discover that your particular cover includes yoga, I’d also love you to let me know — it will help me understand what is working for different clients and funds.
My provider numbers are:
ARHG Provider No. YA14994K • CBHS | AHM Provider No. YA14994