Types of bracing devices

These devices vary in support, purpose and materials. The three key types are:

• Braces (or stabilisers) usually are rigid and used for healing after an injury or surgery.
• Supports are generally lightweight and simple. They are sleeves or wrap around the affected area, possibly with a strap for adjustment. Supports mostly are used to protect from injury or further damage. Some may also keep the area warm for additional pain relief.
• Straps are simply bands wrapped around an arm or leg. They take stress and pain off the joint. Commonly used for tennis elbow, runners knee and similar conditions.
• Splints are rigid wrap around devices used to immobilise a joint or limb. This allows full healing while also reducing pain.

Generally, only custom made braces and specific supports (see below) are eligible for HCi cover.

How long a medical brace or support is needed depends on why you need it. We recommend following your medical provider’s advice and wear it as long as they think is beneficial to you.

HCi cover for medical braces

Some of the braces HCi covers are:

• knee-ankle-foot orthoses
• custom knee braces
• ankle-foot orthoses
• thoraco-lumbo-sacral orthoses
• lumbo-sacral orthoses
• elbow braces
• shoulder braces
• wrist-hand orthoses
• plagiocephaly helmets (partially covered for infants).

HCi cover for medical supports

When medically necessary, HCi only covers the following supports:

• compression garments and surgical stockings
• pregnancy related compression garments
• mastectomy bra/top (non-surgical)
• surgical corsets/trusses
• custom made surgical footwear
• wigs and hairpieces (non-surgical)

Claims eligibility under HCi cover

Generally, HCi only covers braces and supports that are

• medically necessary (you need to give us an eligibility declaration),
• prescribed by a medical practitioner or specialist,
• custom made for the individual (this does not include forming a splint or plaster cast around a broken bone), and
• supplied by a recognised supplier within Australia.

Note that we do not cover

• off the shelf or over the counter braces and supports,
• compression garments, unless listed, or
• braces used for general support or prevention of sports injuries.

Claiming medical braces and eligible supports

Once you have paid in full for the device, you can submit a claim for it.

Some providers may have electronic claiming available on the spot. Otherwise you can submit the receipt via OMS. General eligibility rules apply (eg waiting periods have been served, limits have not been reached).

Braces and supports are covered under medical appliances. You can see your current limit by logging into OMS and going to ‘extras cover limits’ under membership in the left menu. Call us if you’re not sure which limit applies to you.