No Gap Joint Replacement program

Eligible members could pay no out-of-pocket costs* for a knee or hip joint replacement.

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How Medibank's No Gap Joint Replacement program works

The No Gap Joint Replacement program allows eligible members to pay no out-of-pocket costs* on a wide range of services as part of hospital admission for elective surgery for a joint replacement.1 Depending on the member's type of cover, an excess or co-payment may still be payable.

The program has been designed to provide members with more affordable care options and transparency about out-of-pocket costs* when undergoing a joint replacement with participating surgeons and hospitals.

doctor holding a clipboard smiling at a patient

Doctor-led and designed

The doctor-designed model of care has been developed to help patients spend less time in hospital and get back to doing what they love faster. The typical joint replacement experience may have people in hospital for up to 5 days.2 The No Gap Joint Replacement Program typically has people in hospital between 1-4 days.This means we can pass on no out-of-pockets to our members.

Through this model of care people may return to mobility faster, aiding an improved range of movement and outcome.

 

 doctor checking a patient's knee

Patient education and support

With the No Gap Joint Replacement Program, members may spend less time in hospital but that doesn’t mean they get less support. The program is designed to provide eligible members access to personalised support before and after their surgery.

This may include: pre-admission joint school, rehabilitation with a physiotherapist, other allied health support if their treating doctors consider it to be clinically appropriate.

 

patient sitting on a bed while a physio checks the patient's leg

Personalised recovery    

The program provides a new model of care that may reduce the amount of time in hospital, where clinically appropriate. This means members can recover in the comfort of their own home with the right support.

The surgeon will decide if this program is clinically suitable for members and will work with them to decide if they need rehabilitation after their surgery and if so, what type of rehabilitation is right.

 

Hear from participating surgeons

Dr Scott Tulloch and Dr Cameron Cooke discuss how we can offer no gap procedures, spending less time in hospital, and the support patients can expect to receive before and after their surgery.

How we can offer no gap procedures for our eligible members

You may spend less time in hospital but with the same quality of care

Receive personalised support before and after surgery

What costs are covered in the No Gap Joint Replacement program?

Usually, there are several out-of-pocket costs* associated with an elective joint replacement surgery: surgeon fees, bills for scans and blood tests, the anaesthetist’s bill and more – it adds up.

That’s why we've partnered with a range of surgeons and participating hospitals to deliver no gap knee or hip joint replacement surgeries. 

 

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Pre-admission joint school

 

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Joint replacement surgery with a participating surgeon, including your prosthesis (artificial joint)

 

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Anaesthetist costs

 

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Assistant surgeon costs

 

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Hospital accommodation, including all theatre costs

 

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Diagnostic tests (scans and blood tests)

 

patient sitting on a chair using an exercise band to perform knee exercises with a physio

What about rehabilitation?

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to rehabilitation because everyone is different. A surgeon will decide whether rehabilitation is required as part of a joint surgery recovery plan. If rehabilitation is required there is two ways: in hospital or at home.

If clinically appropriate, and there is a rehabilitation at home provider in the area, eligible Medibank members can receive rehabilitation in the comfort of their own home at no additional cost.

An excess or per day payment may still be payable, depending on the product a member has chosen.

Hear from program participants

Bronwyn and Robert share their experiences with Medibank's No Gap Joint Replacement program.

Extra support, no extra cost

Medibank members with hospital cover can access a whole range of health programs, services and support, at no extra cost.

 

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Hospital Assist

To help you prepare for and recover from hospital admission, eligible members can access support over the phone from our Health Concierge clinicians, or visit the online hub for helpful tips and tools.5 

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Health advice that never sleeps

Medibank health insurance members can speak to a registered nurse over the phone or online to discuss any health questions or concerns at no extra cost.6 Chat online or call 1800 644 325 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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Mental health support around the clock

Medibank health insurance members can chat with a mental health professional over the phone or online in relation to any mental health or emotional concern, at no extra cost.6 Chat 24 hours a day 7 days a week on 1800 644 325 or log in to My Medibank. 

Questions to ask your health professionals

These questions have been developed as a guide to help you feel better informed, prepared and confident with your health care options. 

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FAQs

Things you should know

* 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.

Excludes joint replacements resulting from an emergency admission.

2 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW]. Admitted patient care 2017–18: Australian hospital statistics. Health services series no. 90. Canberra: AIHW; 2019. Accessed January 5, 2022 https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/hospitals/admitted-patient-care-2017-18/contents/at-a-glance.  

3 Medibank No Gap Joint Replacement Program member clinical Indicators average length of stay data taken from October 2023 to March 2024.

4 Soffin E, YaDeau J. ‘Enhanced recovery after surgery for primary hip and knee arthroplasty: A review of the evidence’, Br J Anaesth 2016; 117(3):iii62-iii72.

5 Health Concierge is available to all eligible Medibank members who hold hospital cover. Excludes Overseas Visitor Health Cover, Working Visa Health Cover and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). Some referred services may involve out of pocket costs.

6 Some referred services may involve out-of-pocket costs.

Offered only by participating orthopaedic surgeons and only at participating hospitals. The surgeon and hospital will work with you to decide if the program is right for you and your health needs. However, if the surgeon refers you to a non-participating hospital and/or the program is not otherwise right for your health needs, any such procedure will not be part of the no gap joint replacement program and you may incur out-of-pocket costs.

The listing of a provider does not comprise any sort of representation or recommendation by Medibank regarding the provider. To the fullest extent allowed by law, such reference should not be construed as:

  • an endorsement by Medibank; or
  • commendation for the status of the provider’s registration with their registration bodies like the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA); or
  • a recommendation or warranty by Medibank of, for or in relation to the provider’s services.

Accordingly, Medibank neither takes nor assumes any responsibility for the services provided. Members should rely on their own enquiries and seek any assurance or warranties directly from the provider in relation to the service or with the registration bodies (e.g. AHPRA) regarding any conditions or restrictions to the provider’s registration.

Information presented is refreshed regularly. Information is accurate at time of publishing.