What you can and can’t use telehealth for
More Australians are turning to telehealth as a more convenient way to manage their healthcare. But does this mean you can skip in-person consultations altogether?
The short answer is (unfortunately), no.
While telehealth appointments are great for many healthcare needs, they’re not suitable for everything. Some conditions require a physical examination, and in some cases, your doctor might recommend seeing you in person.
So, when can you access telehealth, and when do you need to visit a clinic?
Using telehealth services
Telehealth is a way to access medical care via phone or video, so you can speak with a healthcare professional without leaving home. It’s useful for services that don’t require a physical exam, such as:
Psychology appointments
Getting treatments* or referrals, as recommended by a GP
Managing your individual health needs
GP consultations
Prenatal classes and more
One of the benefits of using telehealth is flexibility. You can book a telehealth consultation with a GP or clinician at a time that suits you – especially helpful if you’re busy or live in a remote area. But what you can access depends on your healthcare provider, whether they offer telehealth services, and if they feel it’s appropriate for you.
Related: Use nib’s find a provider tool to search for healthcare professionals who offer telehealth.
Why can’t telehealth be used for all appointments?
While telehealth makes accessing care easier, it’s not always the best option. Some conditions require a physical exam – like assessing skin checks or remedial massage therapy. In other cases, face-to-face consultations may be necessary for capturing real-time health data, such as blood pressure monitoring or remedial massage therapy.
Your doctor may also recommend an in-person visit for serious or sensitive discussions to ensure you receive the right care for your situation. If you’re unsure, check with your healthcare provider before booking a telehealth appointment.
Related: What to expect from your first telehealth appointment.
What about costs and making claims?
Before you book a telehealth appointment, it’s important to check what’s covered by private health insurance or Medicare. Keep reading to find out what nib members can and can’t claim when it comes to telehealth.
Can Australian residents claim telehealth appointments through nib?
Unfortunately, you cannot claim for telehealth appointments. However nib members, including those with a free nib membership, can use exclusive pricing and capped fees for your next GP telehealth appointment. Whether you need to access a medical certificate 1, recommended treatment, pathology or radiology request or just general health advice, you can speak with a GP at a time that suits you – all you need is your phone.
Learn more about exclusive pricing and capped GP telehealth booking fees for Australian resident nib members.
What other telehealth services can I claim with my nib membership as an Australian resident?
If you're an nib member with Extras cover that includes these services, you can claim telehealth benefits for:
Psychology
Physiotherapy
Dietetics
Speech pathology
Occupational therapy
Exercise physiology and podiatry
Members with hospital cover can also claim appropriate telehealth appointments for rehabilitation services2. For more details, visit telehealth and your cover.
Can International students and workers claim telehealth appointments through nib?
If you’re an international student, you can book a telehealth appointment with a doctor using the nib App and it will be billed to nib directly.3 So, whether you need a medical certificate following a medical appointment, a recommended treatment, or even just a consult, you have everything you need to make a telehealth appointment with your GP in the palm of your hand.
If you’re an international worker with an active nib policy, you’ll be able to claim benefits for telehealth appointments if you have cover that includes out-patient GP services.3
Telehealth consultations are offered only when it's clinically appropriate, so not all doctors or nurse practitioners will make it available to all patients. We recommend giving your doctor or nurse practitioner a call to check before making an appointment.
For more information, check out our page GP telehealth.
Other telehealth services available to nib members
nib offers a range of telehealth services beyond GP consultations through our partner hub.health:
Get medical certificates1 following a telehealth consult with a GP
Treatments* recommended by a GP can be delivered directly to your door or accessed digitally on your phone
Some health management programs are delivered online or over the phone
Telehealth consultations.
Not sure what’s covered?
Contact nib today to explore your telehealth options and find the right cover for your needs.
By choosing telehealth for eligible appointments, you can save time while still getting quality healthcare – wherever you are.
Please note: The information throughout this article serves as broad information and should not replace any advice you have been given by your medical practitioner.
*The provision of treatments is not guaranteed. It will be based on the information you provide during your consultation and whether the GP or Nurse Practitioner deems it to be appropriate for the care of your individual health needs. Please note that treatments which have high potential for misuse, abuse or addiction cannot be recommended via telehealth.
1The provision of a medical certificate is not guaranteed and will depend on the information provided during your consultation and whether the GP or the Nurse Practitioner deems it to be appropriate.
2Services include psychology, physiotherapy, dietetics, speech pathology, occupational therapy, exercise physiology and podiatry, and hospital cover for rehabilitation care. This is subject to your chosen level of cover, policy exclusions, waiting periods and limits. Only individual telehealth consultations are covered, groups and classes are currently not funded for telehealth.
3nib will cover appropriate treatment using telehealth for eligible members with recognised providers. This is subject to your chosen level of cover, availability at your chosen clinic, policy exclusions, waiting periods and limits. May not be appropriate for all consultations. Only individual telehealth consultations are covered, groups and classes are currently not funded for telehealth. nib Fund Rules and Policy Booklet Terms apply.