Medicare and home health care equipment in Australia

If you've searched for 'does Medicare cover home health care equipment in Australia?', the short answer is: Medicare itself does not directly fund most home equipment like hospital beds, wheelchairs, walkers or oxygen concentrators. Australia funds at-home equipment through a different mix of programmes: Support at Home (the replacement for Home Care Packages from July 2025), the NDIS, DVA, and state-based aids and equipment schemes. This guide walks through each pathway and how to access them.

What Medicare does cover at home

Medicare primarily funds clinician services, not durable equipment. Under a Chronic Disease Management plan (formerly EPC), a GP can refer you for up to five subsidised allied health visits per calendar year — including occupational therapy and physiotherapy. An OT can assess equipment needs, recommend modifications and write referrals, but the equipment itself is funded elsewhere. Medicare also subsidises some continence consumables via the Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) once eligibility is established.

Support at Home (replaces Home Care Packages)

From 1 July 2025, Support at Home replaces Home Care Packages for older Australians. Funding covers approved assistive technology and home modifications under three tiers — low-cost items via a goods, equipment and assistive technology (AT) budget, and higher-cost items through assessed AT and home modification budgets. Eligibility is via My Aged Care; an aged care assessment determines your level of support.

NDIS

If you're under 65 and have a permanent and significant disability, the NDIS funds assistive technology and home modifications as 'reasonable and necessary' supports. An OT or other allied health professional prepares an AT assessment that goes to the NDIA for approval. Enviva is an NDIS-registered provider and can quote, supply and invoice directly to plan-managed and agency-managed participants.

DVA (Department of Veterans' Affairs)

Eligible Gold and White Card holders can access mobility aids, beds, bathroom equipment and home modifications through the Rehabilitation Appliances Program (RAP). A DVA-contracted OT or clinician prescribes the equipment; DVA funds supply.

State aids and equipment schemes

Each state runs an aids and equipment programme for people who don't qualify for NDIS, Support at Home or DVA. Examples include SWEP (Victoria), EnableNSW, MASS (Queensland) and others. Programmes typically require an OT or physio prescription and may have waitlists or co-payments.

Private health insurance

Many private health funds rebate part of the cost of approved mobility, bathroom safety and home health equipment under extras cover. Rebates and pre-approval rules vary — check with your fund before purchasing.

How to start

If you're unsure which scheme applies, start with an OT assessment via your GP (Medicare-subsidised) and contact Enviva — we can help match equipment to your funding pathway and handle the supply and invoicing.