Claiming for Gym and Fitness

The declaration needs to be completed by a health practitioner that’s registered or licensed under Australian law. This can be a medical practitioner (e.g. your GP or Specialist Doctor), Physiotherapist, Exercise Physiologist, Chiropractor or Osteopath.

Eligible conditions include arthritis, asthma, cardiac conditions, cardiac risk factors (e.g. high blood pressure or high cholesterol), diabetes, musculoskeletal conditions, and obesity.

If your condition isn’t included in this list, you may still be eligible to claim for your gym or fitness program. Your health practitioner will need to indicate on the Health Management declaration the diagnosed health condition and the health management program they recommend to improve your condition.

Programs include gym classes, personal training, aqua-based exercise classes and community health programs. The program must be delivered by an AUSactive accredited provider.

Heads up, under current government legislation, health funds can’t pay toward Pilates, Yoga or Tai Chi.

You can access AUSactive accredited providers including personal trainers, aqua-based program providers, and gyms. Ask your preferred provider if they’re registered with AUSactive or contact us on 1300 113 113 to check.

AUSactive maintains a register of active health providers that practice in accordance with national professional standards. We only pay benefits for AUSactive accredited providers to safeguard the health and interests of our members.

If you have pre-paid for a gym or fitness program, your claim will be paid after you have attended the program. You can choose to claim for individual sessions, or at the end of the program.

For example, you have pre-paid for a block of ten personal training sessions you can submit your claim after each session, or for the entire block when you’ve completed all ten.

Yes, if your health practitioner has prescribed a health management program that can be completed at a gym (e.g. strength training or gym classes), you can claim gym membership costs. We don’t pay one off costs like joining or administration fees.

You’ll need to include a completed Health Management Declaration form and an itemised receipt or account statement from your gym or health program provider, which includes:

• The name of the provider, their address, and ABN
• The full name of the member completing the program
• Dates of service
• Details about the service or program being claimed.

Once your claim is approved, we'll pay the funds to your nominated bank account. We don't pay claims to the provider.

Depending on how long your health practitioner prescribes the program for, the declaration lasts for up to 2 years. After this time, you’ll need to complete a new form to submit a claim for medically necessary Gym and Fitness benefits.