What to do if you're feeling sick

Who?
A pharmacy or chemist is where you can purchase medicines and other health products.

Some you can buy without a prescription (e.g. cold and flu medication, ibuprofen, paracetamol) but others will need a prescription from your doctor.

When should I see one?
Pharmacies can recommend non-prescription medicines and are a great source of information for health checks, vaccinations, medical certificates and more.

Where can I find one?
Find your local pharmacy now.

What can I expect when I’m there?
The pharmacy or chemist you visit will usually have lots of products grouped together, so you can see all of the options.

If you’re not sure which products can be used to treat your illness, just speak to the pharmacist or staff member on duty and let them know:

• The symptoms you’re feeling
• How long you’ve been feeling them
• Any other medications you’ve been taking.

They’ll be able to give good advice and let you know if you should see a GP.

How much will it cost me?
Check your cover for details and any limits that may apply.

Who?
A doctor or GP is usually your starting point for health care. They’ll check you for any problems and try to treat you right away. They can also arrange for tests to help with their diagnosis (e.g. blood samples) and refer you to a specialist, hospital or allied health professional if necessary.

When should I see one?
A doctor or GP can help when you have an illness or injury that need treatment, but isn’t a full emergency.

Where can I find one?
If you’re on Bupa OSHC, find your nearest Bupa-friendly doctor here. They’ll be able to claim for you on the spot.

If you’re on Bupa OVC, visit a local doctor and then submit a claim through myBupa.

What can I expect when I’m there?
If it’s your first visit to the doctor, arrive a few minutes early as you might need to fill out a little paperwork.

Also don’t forget to bring your Bupa member card.

When you’re with the doctor, some things to discuss include:

• How you’re feeling
• How long you’ve been feeling that way
• Any medications you’ve been taking.

Ask lots of questions if you need to – and make sure you’re clear with any instructions, or if you don’t agree with their recommended treatment plan.

How much will it cost me?
Doctor or GP consultations are covered with Bupa OVC and OSHC. When you make your appointment, it’s a good idea to understand the cost for your appointment, as if it’s more than the benefits paid on your policy, you’ll need to pay the gap.

Check your cover for details and any limits which may apply.

Who?
A medical specialist is a doctor with a high level of education and training in a specific area of medicine – like a cardiologist, who specialises in treating heart conditions.

When should I see one?
Your doctor or GP will let you know if you need to see a specialist – and put you in contact with them.

Where can I find one?
Find providers which Bupa has a relationship with here.

If you’re on Bupa OVC, visit a local doctor and then submit a claim through myBupa.

What can I expect when I’m there?
Prepare for your specialist appointment by making a list of what you want to discuss, including your symptoms and how long you’ve had them, any medication you’re taking (including vitamins and herbal supplements) and any recent medical appointments or treatments. It’s a good idea to find out as much as you can about your family history, too.

Some questions you may want to ask your specialist include:

• What’s your diagnosis?
• What treatment do they recommend and how effective is it?

Things to take to your appointment:

• Your GP referral letter
• Any test results and/or scans
• Your Bupa member card

Don’t forget to arrive a few minutes early to fill out any paperwork required.

How much will it cost me?
Specialist fees can vary from doctor to doctor and may not be easy to work out until you have an initial consultation with your medical specialist.

Bupa OVC and OSHC members are covered for specialist consultations. Check your cover for details and any limits which may apply.

Who?
Allied health providers are qualified health professionals, focused on preventing, diagnosing and treating a range of conditions. This includes people like

• Psychologists
• Occupational therapists
• Physiotherapists
• Chiropractors
• Podiatrists and more

When should I see one?
If you’re not sure when or who you need to see, your doctor or GP can recommend what’s best for your treatment.

Where can I find one?
Bupa has a relationship with a network of providers who in some instances, can provide a bigger benefit.

Find your nearest provider.

If you’re on Bupa OVC, visit a local doctor and then submit a claim through myBupa.

What can I expect when I’m there?
If it’s your first visit, arrive a few minutes early as you might need to fill out a little paperwork.

At your first appointment:

• Make some notes about your condition so you’re prepared to answer questions from your practitioner e.g. when the pain started, what caused it, what aggravates it, what helps it, how it is affecting your life.
• Know your medical history, including any medications you’re currently taking.
• Prepare questions for your practitioner. Asking questions can help you better understand your condition and treatment.
• Bring x-rays, scans (e.g. MRI, ultrasound, CAT) and recent test results if applicable.

How much will it cost me?
If your doctor refers you to an allied health provider, you may be able to claim for services provided with your hospital cover.

If you want to see an allied health provider without a GP referral, you may be able to claim a benefit if you hold Extras cover, otherwise you may need to pay for the cost of treatment. Check your cover for details and any limits which may apply.

Who?
A hospital emergency department is for urgent medical care and treatment. Most emergency departments are open 24/7 with doctors available to help you on site.

When should I see one?
An emergency is a serious illness or injury that poses an immediate risk to your life, or your long-term wellbeing. If its not an emergency, please visit a doctor or GP.

Where can I find one?
In an emergency, call 000 immediately. They’ll send you an ambulance if required.

What can I expect when I’m there?
If you’re taken by ambulance to a hospital emergency department (sometimes known as the ED, Emergency Room, or ER) this is usually at a public hospital. When you get there, you’ll be assessed by a triage nurse to see how quickly you need to be seen and ensure that those who need urgent care are seen first.

Once the nurse assesses you, you may need to go back into the waiting room if there are more serious cases ahead of you. That said, it’s important to tell them if your condition changes or worsens.

When it’s your turn, you’ll be taken to a treatment area.

If staff can treat you in the emergency department, you’ll be able to go home afterwards.

If the problem is more serious or needs ongoing care, you might be admitted to hospital and the treatment you receive will be as an inpatient (admitted as a patient).

How much will it cost me?
If you’re on Bupa OVC or OSHC, we’ll take care of all emergency+ transport (and non-emergency on some covers) plus on-the-spot treatment when provided by our recognised providers.^*

If you visit the emergency department, your coverage varies depending on the type of cover. Check your cover for details and any limits which may apply.

As part of your health cover, Bupa will take care of 100% of all Emergency Ambulance trips. ^{^}

This means if you need to call an ambulance in an emergency, you don't need to worry about the cost.