The Government has announced a package of reforms to improve the affordability and simplicity of private health insurance. Within the reforms are changes to private health insurance cover for some natural therapies.

In 2015, the Natural Therapies Review Advisory Committee, chaired by the Commonwealth’s Chief Medical Officer, reported that “clear evidence could not be found” for the effectiveness of the listed natural therapies.

The Committee’s report can be found at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/content/phi-natural-therapies.

Commonwealth health funding is typically only paid where a therapy has demonstrated clinical efficacy, and therefore the Government has decided to remove coverage for these services.

Cover for the following natural therapies will be removed from all private health insurance products: Alexander technique, aromatherapy, Bowen therapy, Buteyko, Feldenkrais, herbalism, homeopathy, iridology, kinesiology, naturopathy, Pilates, reflexology, Rolfing, shiatsu, tai chi, and yoga.

Consumers can still choose to access these services, but they will no longer attract a government rebate .This change will take effect from 1 April 2019.

Further information about the package, including the removal of cover for natural therapies, is available at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/private-health-insurance-reform.