Heading home from hospital doesn’t mean your care has to stop.
Bupa has great health programs and tips on using your extras cover to support you in making a speedy recovery.
Your hospital recovery
Being discharged and leaving hospital
When can I go home?
Your care team will talk to you about the appropriate time for you to leave hospital.
Rehab and extra care
Your doctor will talk you through any rehabilitation or extra care you might need (e.g. physiotherapy).
Bupa Health Programs
We’ve partnered with a range of evidence-based healthcare programs1 and services to help you improve your health, access rehabilitation options that suit you, or recover from a major health event.
What to take home with you
- The paperwork you need for discharge (also called a ‘discharge summary’) – it’ll be provided by hospital staff and include key instructions and when to follow up with your GP or specialist
- Any letters, referral paperwork or information from your specialist for your GP
- Details of any prescriptions and medications you’ll need, plus written instructions on how and when to take them
- Written instructions for any exercises you may need to do to help rebuild strength and mobility
- Written instructions for looking after your wound (wound care), if you have one
- All your belongings (don’t forget your phone charger if you plugged it into the wall).
- After care and wound care instructions (if applicable)
- When to call the doctor (e.g. if your prescribed medication isn’t managing your pain, if you suspect you have an infection, experience any complications or have questions about your recovery) and their contact details
- Whether you need and can access services to help you at home (e.g. a social worker, occupational therapist, nurse, or discharge planner/case manager)
- How long your recovery might take, and what to expect while recovering
- Whether you need to be assessed by a physiotherapist (before being discharged) for safety, to be given exercise instructions, mobility aids, a referral for rehab and a plan to rebuild strength and mobility
- When it’s safe or advised to return to work, driving and other regular daily activities.
Using your Bupa extras cover
If you have Bupa extras cover, post-hospital is a great time to use it. Check with your doctor or specialist first (they may advise against some treatments), then consider:
- Osteopathy, occupational therapy or physiotherapy – mobilisation, manipulation or an exercise plan may help speed up your recovery2
- Psychology or counselling – if your mental health has been impacted by your treatment or you need someone to talk to about adjusting to life after treatment2
- Health aids and appliances – you may be able to claim for things like compression garments, a pain management device or blood glucose monitor2.
Tips for a speedy recovery
Before you go to hospital, you may like to move anything that you could trip over and consider sleeping downstairs to reduce your risk of falling.
Your discharge plan from the hospital may also include a home assessment.
The hospital pharmacy will likely dispense the medication you’ll need during recovery.
If you need repeat medication, and can’t get to the pharmacy, ask family or friends to collect medication for you, or check if your pharmacy delivers.
You may also like to ask your pharmacist about dosing aids to ensure you take your medication at the right time and correct dosage.
Good nutrition is important for recovery, so aim for regular, balanced meals.
Ask friends or family for help preparing meals and consider stocking the freezer with prepared and portioned meals before you go to hospital.
Supermarket and meal delivery services may also be useful.
Quality sleep will help you recover more quickly. If you’re having trouble getting to sleep speak to your doctor.
Going to and recovering from hospital can be mentally taxing. Stay connected with friends and family and seek mental health support early.
Adding a new baby to your Bupa cover
If your hospital visit meant the arrival of a new bundle of joy, don’t forget to add them to your Bupa cover.
If you have family, couple or single parent cover:
- Your newborn won’t serve waiting periods if they’re added to your (the parent’s) policy from their date of birth, and before their 1st birthday.
- You may need to change your cover type (e.g. from couple to family cover). Your premium may change and result in a catch-up payment. To ensure your baby remains covered you’ll need to continue to pay your new premium.
If you have singles cover (or couples cover which doesn't have a family or single parent option):
- Your newborn won’t serve waiting periods if added from their date of birth, provided we receive notification of the birth within 90 days, and you change to family or single parent cover from their date of birth. Your premium may change and result in a catch-up payment. To ensure your baby remains covered you’ll need to continue to pay your new premium.
Check or change your Bupa cover
If you’re a current Bupa member and want to check what you’re covered for, you can sign in to myBupa or contact us.
Want to review or change your cover? We can help with that too (waiting periods may apply).
Get Bupa hospital cover
Thinking about getting hospital cover or switching to Bupa?
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If you need hospital pre-admission and recovery support, or have other hospital-related questions, a telehealth appointment with a Bupa health professional may help.
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1 Fund and policy rules, waiting periods and program eligibility criteria apply. Without limiting these rules, any family members covered by a Bupa family policy must be: (1) at least 18 years of age and (2) named in the relevant policy, before they are eligible to access these programs and services.
2 Yearly limits, waiting periods, benefit claiming restrictions, fund and policy rules apply.