Planning a hip or knee replacement?

We know for many of our members, going to hospital can be a daunting experience. From finding out you need to have a procedure to booking it in and working out how much it will cost, there’s a lot to consider.

Top of your list should be choosing the right specialist. It’s important to remember that you have control over which specialist you visit. Not only can choosing the right practitioner save you time and money, but it also means you have the power when it comes to your health and subsequent surgery.

But what if you find the right specialist at the wrong price?

At nib, we want to be more than your insurer - we want to be your health partner; that’s why we offer nib Clinical Partners.

It's our network of experienced orthopaedic surgeons who have committed to performing hip and knee joint replacement surgery with no out of pocket expenses. The Clinical Partners program is currently available in most locations across Australia. You can search our network of Clinical Partners to find one closest to you.

Providing your health cover includes joint replacement surgery, and you’ve served any necessary waiting periods, we’ll cover the full cost of your hospital procedure. With total hip or knee replacements costing on average more than $25,000, you can rest assured that you’ll have nothing but your hospital excess to pay – nib will cover the remainder. 

With 20% of joint replacement surgeries already going through our Clinical Partners program, this is just one of the many ways we’re helping to improve affordability and information transparency for our members.

Specialists can decide to charge more than what the Medical Services Advisory Committee has deemed an ‘appropriate fee’ in the Medicare Benefits Schedule (or MBS), which is set by the Government.

Your surgeon can determine their fees on a case-by-case basis and for a number of reasons, including their geographic location, reputation or individual patient circumstances – they can essentially charge what they believe their service is worth.

Our Clinical Partners program means participating specialists have committed to charging no out of pocket expenses for nib members, no matter the circumstances of your hip or knee replacement. To date, more than 1,400 members have participated in the program saving an average of $2,500 in out of pocket costs per procedure.

Not having to stress about out of pocket costs was a drawcard for Lyn, who’s had two procedures using the Clinical Partners program.

The rehab in the comfort of my own home and, not to mention the financial aspect, has been a huge weight off our shoulders.

You shouldn’t see any bills for your procedure, but if you do, get in touch with your Honeysuckle Health Facilitation Specialist, and they can help. To find out more about Honeysuckle Health, please see below.

Another benefit of the program is that if your surgeon thinks you’re a suitable candidate, you may be able to recover from surgery in the comfort of your own home with a physiotherapist coming to you. Kim from NSW explains, "I do not think I would be this far ahead without the Clinical Partners program. I have absolutely loved having my physio at home, who has been so encouraging."

The Clinical Partners program is the way to go.

One study suggests that patients who go home after uncomplicated knee replacement surgery do just as well as those who have in-patient rehabilitation. And, with at-home recovery, meaning you have access to your own fridge, bathroom and wifi (#priorities), it’s well worth considering.

This program can help you:

• Leave hospital earlier and set up your home environment ready for your recovery

• Learn pain management techniques and understand how to care for your joints after surgery

• Build joint strength and mobility under the guidance of a highly-skilled physiotherapist

Kim says, "Staying in hospital for two weeks was not an option for me. I wanted to return to my home where I feel I have recovered better than I ever would in hospital".

Through the Clinical Partners program, you’ll also be supported by a dedicated Health Facilitation Specialist, who’ll ensure you’re prepared for surgery, will help set up for your recovery and call to check in on your progress after you’ve returned home from hospital.

“The support I received from Honeysuckle Health was second to none. I am back three weeks post-op on my feet and doing the things I once enjoyed again. Thank you for all of your hard work and support,” explains Kenneth.

To bring you these programs, we’ve partnered with Honeysuckle Health. Honeysuckle Health specialises in developing health programs to create better pathways to better health by understanding an individual’s current and future health needs, helping them to prevent and manage disease risk and make better treatment decisions. To check you’re covered and learn more, contact one of our Health Facilitation Specialists about nib Clinical Partners on 1800 312 892 (9am to 5pm Monday to Friday) or email clinical.partners@honeysucklehealth.com.au.

Please note: The tips throughout this article serve as broad information and should not replace any advice you have been given by your medical practitioner.