Rehab Choices Program

What is the Rehab Choices Program?

Bupa enables eligible customers who have had a hospital admission (e.g. for knee or hip replacement surgery) and who need rehabilitation care after their discharge, the choice of having their rehab services in their own home at no additional cost.

A rehabilitation and recovery program can play a crucial role in helping you get back on your feet after a hospital admission. However, your recovery does not always need to happen in hospital. For example, clinical trials have found that people who’ve had uncomplicated knee replacement surgery can recover their mobility just as well at home with a supervised rehab program as they would in hospital.

In the Rehab Choices program, you are provided with relevant information about your rehab options, and are encouraged to discuss these options with your doctor or surgeon to make an informed decision about the most appropriate choice for you.

Rehab options

The rehab options available to you depends on your circumstances and needs and may include:

Rehab in hospital: For those whose doctor considers hospital care the most suitable and safe option, or for those who need ongoing intensive nursing care or assistance.
Community physiotherapist: For those who only need physiotherapy to achieve their rehab goals. If you have Bupa extras cover that includes physiotherapy, you can take advantage of Bupa’s Members First network of physiotherapy providers.
Rehab at home: For those who need rehab support from a range of health professionals (e.g. physiotherapy, occupational therapy and nursing) to replace the care that would be delivered in hospital, but who would prefer the convenience of having rehab at home.

Bupa may use your hospital's health insurance eligibility check as an opportunity to contact you before your surgery to discuss your options and the advantages of home-based rehab, where this is relevant and clinically appropriate.

Why we developed this program

The primary goals of the program are to:

support you to take a more active role in managing your own health, and to make better informed decisions regarding your rehab options.
provide you with the choice of undergoing rehab in the comfort and convenience of your own home, with the appropriate level of support.

What does the program deliver?

If you are eligible, you may be able to access the evidence-based rehab program delivered by a range of health professionals at home
To be eligible, you must have paid-up Bupa Hospital cover, be covered for rehabilitation, and have served relevant waiting periods
There are no out-of-pocket costs if you are eligible
Needs your treating doctors’ consent and a written referral from your doctor or treating hospital

Support is individualised and tailored to meet your needs and goals. Services that can be received at home include:

Physiotherapy
Occupational therapy
Nursing (including wound care and medicines education)
Personal care (help with showering and dressing)
Home care
Meals

Want to find out more?

If you’d like to explore your rehab options, you can call our free help line and speak to a Bupa health professional.
If you are a health professional (e.g. GP or orthopaedic surgeon) or practice manager, and you’d like to know how Bupa can support your patients, our Bupa health professionals are also here to help you.
Call 1800 817 632 Monday to Friday, 9am –5pm AEST.
Program eligibility, fund, policy and waiting period rules apply.
If you would like us to contact you about whether you may be eligible for this program, or for another Member Health Support program, please complete the Bupa TeleHealth Request a Call Form.

Other related resources:

Rehab Choices Brochure

Disclaimer

This program page provides resources and health information as a guide only, not as a substitute for medical advice or a professional endorsement. If you think you have a medical or psychiatric emergency, call 000 or go to the nearest emergency department.

References

Buhagiar MA et al. 2017 Effect of inpatient rehabilitation vs a monitored home-based program on mobility in patients with total knee arthroplasty. The HIHO Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA 317(10):1037-1046.