Home Nursing

Reviewed and updated 1 April 2024

What is Home Nursing?

Home Nursing is a type of supportive care to help you with the basic activities of daily living and to stay well and independent.

Home nursing is usually used for:

Elderly people who need nursing assistance to remain at home.
People with a disability who need support that improves their functional capacity so they can live in the community, study or work.
Someone who is terminally ill, wishes to remain at home and needs a nurse to give medication.

Home nursing can help with:

giving medication
assessing health
catheter care
chemotherapy
dialysis
health and treatment education
mental health
wound care and management.

Does private health insurance cover Home Nursing?

If your private health insurance covers Home Nursing, it falls under Extras Cover.

Ask your insurer whether it covers Home Nursing.

If so, check whether Home Nursing is subject to:

a waiting period before you can make a claim
per claim limits
annual limits.

If I have Extras Cover that includes Home Nursing, will I be covered if any nurse treats me at home?

No. To be covered, your nurse must be a member of an Australian peak body or professional organisation. They must also have approval to be registered under the state and territory laws where they operate.

In addition, your health insurer can decide whether or not to cover treatments from a particular provider.

Some insurers may require you to see a nurse who is one of their recognised providers only.

Before seeking treatment, always check with your health insurer that you are covered.

Does Medicare cover Home Nursing?

No. Medicare does not cover the cost of Home Nursing.

Does the Australian Government cover or subsidise the cost of Home Nursing?

Yes. The Australian Government may cover the cost of Home Nursing depending on your situation.

If you have a disability, you may be eligible for Home Nursing through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
If you are an older person, you may be eligible for Home Nursing through a:
- Commonwealth Home Support Programme (for entry level support)
- Home Care Package (if your health needs are more complex)
If you require palliative care and wish to remain at home, you may receive palliative care through My Aged Care even if you are not receiving aged-care services.