Can you claim on the spot without a terminal?

Yes. Tyro Health runs on my phone and claims to your fund while I am there. You pay the gap by card.

What item number will you use?

For a first home visit, 023 or 024 depending on how long it takes. For later visits, 033 or 034. Ring your fund with that number and they will tell you the exact rebate.

Does my fund cover nail surgery?

Many do, under items 546 and 547. Ask your fund, because the rebate on a surgical item is often on a separate limit to ordinary consultations.

Do you charge for travel?

Not inside the standard visiting area. Beyond it there is a per-kilometre charge, quoted before you book. Some funds pay part of it under item 550.

Claiming your health fund for a home visit

If you hold extras cover with podiatry on it, your fund pays part of every visit. I claim it on the spot and you pay only the balance.

Fees and the item numbers to quote your fund

These are my fees. What your fund pays depends on your policy, so ring them with the item number and ask.

Service	Item	Fee	Your fund pays	You pay
First home visit (up to 45 minutes)	023 or 024	$170	Ask your fund	$170 less your rebate
Follow-up home visit (up to 30 minutes)	033 or 034	$150	Ask your fund	$150 less your rebate
Nail surgery at home — includes two follow-ups	546 / 547	$500	Ask your fund	$500 less your rebate
Custom orthotics, pair	221	$560	Ask your fund	$560 less your rebate
Travel outside the standard area, per 15 minutes	550	Quoted before you book	Not all funds pay this	The balance

Item numbers come from the podiatry schedule agreed between Private Healthcare Australia and the Australian Podiatry Association, in force since 1 September 2024.
Rebates and annual limits vary by fund and by level of cover. I will not guess yours — ring your fund with the item number.
One rebate per visit. Medicare or your fund, not both.

Figures from HICAPS — podiatry item number guide and Private Healthcare Australia — podiatry schedule. Checked 21 August 2026. Government fees change — if you find a figure here that is out of date, tell me and I will correct it.

You do not need me to have a HICAPS terminal

HICAPS is a countertop terminal, which is no use in your lounge room. I claim through Tyro Health instead, from my phone. It reaches the same funds — Medibank, ahm, nib, Bupa, GMHBA and more — and it settles while I am still with you. You pay the gap by card, not the whole fee.

Home visits have their own item numbers

Funds pay a different amount for a visit in your home than for one in a clinic. The domiciliary item numbers are 023 and 024 for a new patient and 033 and 034 for someone I already see. Item 550 covers travel time in fifteen-minute blocks. Not every fund pays on 550 — I check yours before the first visit.

How much you get back

That depends on your fund and your level of extras, and I cannot quote it for you. What I can do is give you the item number before you book so you can ring your fund and ask exactly what they pay on it. Most extras policies also have an annual limit for podiatry.

One rebate per visit

You cannot claim Medicare and your health fund for the same visit. If you are on a GP chronic condition management plan, compare the $63.40 Medicare rebate against what your fund pays and use whichever is higher.

Common questions

Can you claim on the spot without a terminal?: Yes. Tyro Health runs on my phone and claims to your fund while I am there. You pay the gap by card.
What item number will you use?: For a first home visit, 023 or 024 depending on how long it takes. For later visits, 033 or 034. Ring your fund with that number and they will tell you the exact rebate.
Does my fund cover nail surgery?: Many do, under items 546 and 547. Ask your fund, because the rebate on a surgical item is often on a separate limit to ordinary consultations.
Do you charge for travel?: Not inside the standard visiting area. Beyond it there is a per-kilometre charge, quoted before you book. Some funds pay part of it under item 550.