Navigating chronic pain: how your health cover can help

Published April 2026
Expert contributor: Nicolette Ellis, Chair of Chronic Pain Australia
Words by Angela Tufvesson

Chronic pain can affect every part of your life. The right support and health cover can help you access treatments and manage your symptoms.

Chronic pain isn’t something you can see, but anyone who’s experienced it knows it can have a real impact on your daily life. For the estimated 3.6 million Aussies living with it, chronic pain is a persistent, complex condition that can affect everything from work and relationships to sleep and mental health.

While there’s no single solution, a combination of treatments can help manage pain and improve your quality of life. These can include physio, mental health support, yoga, acupuncture and massage.

What is chronic pain?

We all feel pain sometimes – but how do you tell acute vs chronic pain apart?

Usually, when you get sick or injured, your nerves send messages to your brain telling it something’s wrong. Your brain interprets this as pain. Most of the time, the pain goes away when you get better. This is acute pain.

Sometimes, the nerves that carry pain signals to your brain don’t behave the way they should, and pain continues even after the body has healed (usually lasting three months or more). This is known as chronic pain. It can range from mild to severe but is generally felt on most days.

Nicolette Ellis, Chair of Chronic Pain Australia, says chronic pain “is not just a symptom”. “It reflects fundamental changes in the nervous system and even the immune system, which can amplify and maintain pain signals,” she explains.  

“Chronic pain isn’t just about the injury or condition that started it – it’s a persistent, ongoing experience that affects the whole person, in body and mind.”

There are three main types of chronic pain:

• Tissue pain from conditions like osteoarthritis, pelvic pain, unhealed fractures and rheumatoid arthritis.
• Nerve pain including from shingles (an infection that causes a painful rash), and burning sensations in the feet due to diabetes, sciatica or spinal nerve damage. 
• Idiopathic pain where there is no evidence of tissue damage.

How chronic pain can affect your life

Chronic pain can be a very difficult and isolating condition. Some people experience an increase in pain if they sit for too long. For others, moving too much can be a trigger, making it difficult to go about daily life. Many people are unable to work – either full time or part time – and it’s common to retire early, which can contribute to financial strain.

Mental health issues affect 74% of people with chronic pain, according to Chronic Pain Australia’s 2025 National Pain Report. The stigma that comes with chronic pain can add to these issues, with 74% of people saying they feel ignored or dismissed.

“In general, our culture struggles to truly empathise with and validate people living with chronic pain,” says Nicolette.

Chronic pain treatment

For most people, the focus is on managing chronic pain, as there is currently no cure, says Nicolette. “It's very hard to cure chronic pain, as it’s a very complex condition.” She explains that a “multidisciplinary approach” that considers physical, emotional and lifestyle factors tends to work best for improving quality of life.

Physiotherapy and exercise physiology

Exercise and stretching can be one of the most effective methods for managing pain. “This might look like setting small, achievable goals to reintroduce movement into your daily life,” says Nicolette. Depending on your level of cover, RT Health Extras cover can help with the cost of services like physio and exercise physiology.

Yoga and Pilates

Mind and body therapies like yoga and Pilates can support mental wellbeing and pain management. “The key is finding strategies that work for you and that you actually enjoy,” says Nicolette. Check your Cover Guide to see if you can claim for these services.

Acupuncture and massage

Muscle tension, stress and fatigue often make chronic pain worse. Acupuncture is believed to be helpful for a range of conditions, including chronic pain. It works by stimulating specific nerves, which may impact how you feel pain.

Nicolette explains that treatments like massage can also help provide relief. Depending on your cover, RT Health Extras cover includes alternative therapies like acupuncture, remedial massage and Swedish massage.

Mental health support: CBT for chronic pain

Chronic pain can take a toll on your mental health, so talking to a psychologist or counsellor can make a real difference.

With RT Health Extras cover, you may be able to access benefits for mental health support. Eligible RT Health members^* can also claim for online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) courses through THIS WAY UP – they offer a program specifically for people living with chronic pain, teaching practical, evidence-based CBT strategies to help manage it.

Hospital care

Sometimes chronic pain requires more intensive treatment, especially if your symptoms worsen or further investigations are needed. With RT Health hospital cover, you can choose your own doctor and potentially avoid long waitlists for certain procedures, offering peace of mind when managing a complex, long-term condition.

Questions?

We’re always here to help. If you need some info on how and what you can claim, just give us a call on 1300 886 123 or send a quick email to help@rthealth.com.au We’ll be happy to help.

^* THIS WAY UP is available to RT Health members with Deluxe Extras, Top Extras and Smart Extras cover, up to their annual limit of $120 per person, paid under Psychology benefits. The benefit payable will depend on the program you choose.

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