One of the most common questions we hear is whether pressure cushions are covered by Medicare. The short answer is no. Medicare does not fund pressure cushions in Australia. But if you or a family member has an NDIS plan, a DVA card, or a Home Care Package, you may be able to access funding through one of those pathways. Here is how each one works.
Getting a Pressure Cushion Through NDIS
Pressure cushions are classified as Assistive Technology (AT) under the NDIS. Depending on the price, they fall into Low Cost AT (under $1,500) or Mid Cost AT. Most standard gel and air cushions sit comfortably in the Low Cost AT category, which has a simpler approval process.
Who qualifies for NDIS AT funding?
To access NDIS AT funding for a pressure cushion, you need an active NDIS plan with AT funding included. Your plan also needs to note a disability-related need that makes a pressure cushion necessary. This could be reduced mobility, limited sensation, or a condition that increases your pressure injury risk, such as a spinal cord injury or MS.
If your plan does not currently include AT funding, ask your support coordinator or plan manager to request a plan review and have it added.
Do you need an OT assessment?
For Low Cost AT, an OT assessment is not always mandatory. That said, it strengthens your claim and helps you find the right cushion for your needs. For Mid Cost AT and above, an OT report is typically required before the NDIS will approve the purchase. We recommend getting one regardless. The right cushion fit matters clinically, and an OT assessment is usually funded under Capacity Building supports.
How to purchase
Once approved, you can purchase through a registered NDIS provider or an unregistered supplier using plan-managed or self-managed funds. We can provide quotes and tax invoices formatted for NDIS claims. Contact us at support@mobilityshopdirect.com.au with your plan details.
DVA Funding for Pressure Cushions
The Department of Veterans' Affairs covers a range of Assistive Technology items for eligible veterans, including pressure cushions.
Gold Card vs White Card
If you hold a DVA Gold Card, most clinically appropriate AT, including pressure cushions, is covered with a GP or OT referral. If you hold a White Card, coverage applies to accepted service-related conditions only. In practice, most elderly veterans with mobility-related pressure injury risk will qualify under either card with the right referral.
How to claim
Your GP or OT writes a referral to an approved supplier. We can provide DVA-formatted quotes and invoices. The key is having documented clinical need. A brief letter from your OT confirming pressure injury risk is the fastest path to approval.
Home Care Package and CHSP Funding
If you are aged 65 or over and have a Home Care Package (HCP) or access the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP), you may be able to fund a pressure cushion through your package.
Home Care Packages (Level 1 to 4)
Pressure cushions can be purchased as an AT item under an HCP. Contact your package provider and ask them to approve the purchase. Having an OT recommendation significantly increases your chances of approval. HCP providers have discretion over how package funds are allocated, so framing your request around falls prevention, pressure injury risk, and maintaining independence tends to be more effective than a generic "cushion" request.
My Aged Care
If you do not yet have a Home Care Package, register through the My Aged Care portal (myagedcare.gov.au) to be assessed and connected with the right support level. An ACAT (Aged Care Assessment Team) assessment will determine which supports you qualify for.
NDIS vs aged care: which applies to you?
If you are under 65 with a permanent disability, NDIS is the relevant pathway. If you are 65 or over, aged care funding applies. Some people cross over. If you entered the NDIS before turning 65, you can choose to remain on the NDIS. Your support coordinator can advise on the best pathway for your situation.
For more detail on DVA specifically, see our DVA and government funding guide. To browse our full pressure cushion range, visit our pressure relief cushions collection.
Key takeaways
- Medicare does not fund pressure cushions in Australia
- NDIS can fund them as Low Cost AT, and an OT assessment helps but is not always mandatory for lower-cost cushions
- DVA Gold Card holders can access funding with a GP or OT referral
- Home Care Package holders should ask their provider to approve the purchase as an AT item