Home › Foot health guides › Fees and planning your visit
Bulk billed or private podiatry: what should I compare?
Foot pain can make choosing care feel urgent, while cost still matters. Compare the appointment you need, what you would pay and what is included. A higher fee does not, by itself, show whether a service will suit you better.
Am I eligible for Medicare-supported podiatry with a GP care plan?
A Medicare card alone does not make every podiatry visit eligible. Ask your GP about an appropriate care plan and referral. The usual allowance is shared across allied-health professions; some patients have different limits.
Will I have an out-of-pocket cost for podiatry?
If a provider bulk bills an eligible service, they accept the Medicare benefit as full payment for that service. If they charge privately, ask for the full fee, expected rebate and payment process. Confirm the arrangement for your particular appointment.
How many Medicare-supported podiatry visits can I have each year?
Eligible GP referrals generally allow up to five Medicare-supported allied-health services per calendar year in total across the allied health services your GP refers you to, not five for each. Different limits can apply for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. A care plan does not make visits free: a provider may bulk bill or charge a fee above the rebate. Your GP advises on eligibility and referrals.
Does Burwood Podiatry bulk bill Medicare podiatry appointments?
No. Burwood Podiatry charges consultation fees rather than bulk billing its care-plan appointments. You pay the full fee at your visit and the Medicare rebate (MBS item 10962) returns separately. The cost after the rebate depends on which podiatrist you see; the Fees page lists each amount. If avoiding an out-of-pocket cost is your priority, ask other providers whether they bulk bill your eligible visit; that may be the right choice for you.
Can I use private health insurance for podiatry?
If your cover includes podiatry, you may be able to claim through HICAPS at the visit and pay the gap. Burwood Podiatry participates in Bupa Members First and HCF More for Feet. Benefits depend on your cover, item eligibility and annual limits, so check with your fund before treatment, including for any device or procedure quote.
What other funding can cover podiatry, such as DVA, NDIS, workers compensation or CTP?
Some people use other schemes. Burwood Podiatry accepts Veteran Gold Card and eligible White Card referrals, and eligible plan-managed or self-managed NDIS participants (not NDIA-managed funding). Workers compensation and CTP Green Slip (motor vehicle accident) podiatry claims need the insurer’s prior written approval before the first visit, and aged care services depend on your approved plan. Tell us which scheme you use when booking so eligibility and costs can be clarified before care begins.
What questions should I ask any podiatry clinic before booking?
A price on its own does not show whether two appointments include the same thing. Ask how long the appointment is, which clinician you will see, whether assessment or treatment is included, whether devices, procedures or dressings are charged separately, whether fitting, adjustments or reviews are included, and whether fees will be explained before you agree to further care. It is also worth asking about cancellation terms; at Burwood Podiatry, at least 24 hours’ notice is requested.
How long is a podiatry appointment and what does it include?
Ask how long is allocated and whether the appointment covers your actual concern: heel pain, a sore nail, a diabetic foot check or something else. At Burwood Podiatry, standard consultations are 30 minutes for assessment, findings and practical recommendations; procedures may need longer.
Are podiatry devices and treatments charged separately from the consultation?
Ask about the total quote and whether fitting, adjustments, dressings and reviews are included. At Burwood Podiatry, devices and procedures are quoted separately before consent. An assessment does not commit you to buying treatment. Existing orthotics can be reviewed before considering replacement.
Choosing a podiatrist and planning follow-up visits
Compare clinic days, languages, clinical interests and fees. You can select a Burwood Podiatry clinician subject to availability. Ask whether future appointments can be with the same person, how reviews are arranged and how relevant findings can be shared with your GP with consent.
Bulk billed or private podiatry: which suits my circumstances?
The lowest out-of-pocket cost can be the right choice. Appointment availability, a language you prefer, access and a clinician’s interests may also matter to you. Ask the questions that help you decide; neither a price nor a billing method gives the whole picture.
Check the costs before booking
Burwood Podiatry’s fees table shows the full fee and cost after Medicare rebate. Jonathan’s Medicare appointments are arranged by telephone; Jasem and Omar’s can be booked online.
Sources and clinical guidance
These sources support the general information above. Individual assessment may lead to different advice.
Sources checked 14 September 2026.