What is palliative care?
What is palliative care?
Palliative care is all about helping people live as fully and comfortably as possible when facing a life-limiting or terminal illness. It’s tailored to the person’s needs and preferences, with the main goal being to improve quality of life.
When someone needs palliative care, their needs and the needs of their carers and family often grow. That’s when extra services and support step in to make sure the person gets coordinated quality care, and their family has the help they need.
What is Palliative Care at Home?
What is Palliative Care at Home?
It’s a program for eligible members who need palliative care but prefer to stay at home instead of in hospital. The goal is to make things easier and more comfortable for you and your family.
A team of health professionals will visit you at home to provide care and support. They’ll work closely with your doctor, who stays in charge of your treatment decisions.
You’ll need a referral from your GP or treating health professional to get started.
How the program works
How the program works
We partner with trusted local palliative care providers to help deliver this care. You’ll need hospital cover that includes access to Palliative Care at Home services (check your product guide), have up to date cover, have served any relevant waiting periods, and have a referral from your doctor. Services can include:
- Nursing and medical care
- Psychosocial support
- Respite
- Allied health
- Domestic assistance
- Equipment provision
Plus, you’ll have 24/7 phone support from registered nurses. And for families, we offer bereavement support after your loved one passes.
What products is this available on?
- evolve silver plus
- elite gold copay
Where is the program available?
Where is the program available?
Palliative Care at Home is currently available in Metropolitan Brisbane, Northern Sydney, Townsville, Toowoomba, Sunshine Coast, Metropolitan Adelaide and Metropolitan Melbourne.
Services are subject to provider availability and coverage may be limited at the time of referral. Please note availability may vary over time.
How much does it cost?
How much does it cost?
ahm pays benefits towards the cost of your Palliative Care at Home. If you need additional treatment, there might be some out-of-pocket costs.
Want to check your eligibility?
Want to check your eligibility?
For more info on the program and to check if you’re eligible, call us on 1300 733 338 (Mon–Fri, 9am–4pm AEST) or email medibank.home@medibank.com.au(opens in your email client).
Things you should know
Things you should know
+Members who hold a residential hospital product that includes access to ahm Palliative Care at Home, and who have served any relevant waiting periods.
*Your treating doctor or health practitioner needs to consider it appropriate.
#Not available in all areas. Services are subject to provider availability and coverage may be limited at the time of referral. Please note availability may vary over time.
We hope this info helps, but keep in mind it’s general advice only. It’s not health advice and doesn’t take your personal situation into account. Always chat with a trusted health professional before making decisions about your care. We’ve done our best to make sure everything’s accurate, but we can’t promise it’s complete or up-to-date. If we mention products or services from others, that’s not an endorsement – and we can’t take responsibility for them. For these reasons, we can’t accept responsibility for any loss from acting on this info (subject to consumer guarantees, of course).