Updated July 12th 2024, originally published June 9th 2015.
As Course Director at Discover Massage Australia, many students come to me seeking advice about how health fund rebates affect their massage business.
They’re often anxious because they’ve seen job advertisements requiring massage therapists to have health fund coverage. Understandably, the students become concerned that they will not be successful if they do not cover all health fund rebates in their massage business.
This article provides the advice and information I offer my students in this situation.
Health Fund Provider Numbers
It’s crucial to understand that getting a provider number for health funds isn’t guaranteed, even if you have a diploma, regardless of where you obtained it. Each application is individually assessed by a massage association representing the health funds themselves. To apply for a provider number, you must join a massage association and submit your application through them. They handle this process on behalf of the health funds.
What Are Health Fund Rebates?
Individuals with private health insurance (roughly fifty-five percent of Australians) may be eligible to claim a portion of their massage treatment back from their private health fund. For example, depending on their level of cover, a client who has an $80 massage treatment could claim $25 back on up to five of these treatments over the course of a year.
This private health fund rebate effectively reduces the price of the treatment. Hence, it may prove a benefit in promoting your service to clients.
What Are The Facts About Private Health and Health Funds?
Sometimes the benefits of health fund rebates on a potential massage business can be overstated. It is important to understand and evaluate the impact that health fund provider status has on your intended massage career or business.
• Only fifty-five per cent of Australians have private health cover, which means forty-five per cent of potential clients cannot claim.
• Not all of the fifty-five per cent of Australians with private healthcare can claim massage treatments. Only some levels of cover offer rebates for massage.
• The type of massage career you intend to have may not involve rebates to begin with – i.e. sporting teams, treating alongside an allied health professional, treatments for non-Australian residents (such as tourists).
• There are around fifty health funds in Australia. Each one carries its own set of rules and criteria for therapists!
Can You Just Do The Diploma and Get All Health Funds Covered?
The HLT52015 Diploma in Remedial Massage is now treated as a direct entry course. The HLT42015 Certificate IV in Massage Therapy was removed from the national training package. However, some private health funds have recently set specific learning requirements for access to their provider scheme. To qualify for provider status, students must meet these requirements with their chosen qualification and study mode, which can include both in-person and online training.
Do I Need Health Fund Status To Be A Successful Massage Therapist?
The simple answer is no.
As stated previously, a client rebate will reduce the treatment price for a client and be a marketing tactic for you to use.
However, I would not like to build any business – especially a massage practice – where just one marketing tactic is used to attract and retain clients.
I have seen many graduates launch and maintain very successful careers without offering health rebates to clients. How do they do it? They focus on diverse marketing strategies and client retention methods beyond offering a cheaper price. This includes aspects like product quality and variety, location, effective client communication, and fostering customer loyalty.
So What Are My Options With My Qualification and Health Funds?
If your preferred qualification and study method don’t automatically qualify you for health fund provider status, consider the following questions:
• Do I truly require health fund rebates for clients in my massage practice or career path?
• Do I prioritise the flexibility of study over meeting health fund training criteria?
• Can I begin my career without health fund provider status and upgrade later if necessary?
Additionally:
• Stay informed by maintaining communication with your association about the latest health fund updates.-
• Ensure that health fund rebates don’t dominate your clinic’s marketing strategy, as it may limit opportunities.
• Remember, enhancing your knowledge and skills enables you to provide superior healthcare to your clients. This should be the primary motivation behind selecting your course, rather than solely pursuing health fund requirements!
I also recommend students focus on qualifying for the Diploma of Remedial Massage to benefit from increasing their knowledge and range of skills this course offers. This ensures you become a qualified remedial massage therapist, albeit without health fund registration.
Training: Is undertaken in a partnering arrangement with RTO 31486.
Training: Certification is issued by RTO 31486
