Workers Compensation for Medical Expenses
Written by
Principal Lawyer and Director · Last updated 21 August 2026
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Key Takeaway: If you are injured at work in NSW, your employer’s insurer must cover reasonably necessary medical expenses. Initial treatment within 48 hours and public hospital emergency care need no pre-approval. How long you can claim depends on permanent impairment: under 10% gives two years, 10 to 20% gives five years, and 20% or more can mean medical costs for life.
Workers Compensation Medical Expenses: Quick Answers
When injured during the course of employment, workers may be eligible to receive workers compensation under work health and safety laws in New South Wales and become entitled to various benefits including medical and rehabilitation expenses. The medical expenses that can be covered by the employer/insurer should be “reasonably necessary” and may include the following:
- Treatment by medical practitioners, physiotherapists, psychologists, counsellors, and osteopaths
- Domestic assistance services
- Damage to artificial aids
- Damage to clothing
- Rehabilitation services
- Ambulance treatment
- Modifications to home and vehicle
- Nursing
- Medications outside hospital
- Travel expenses for attending medical appointments
In general, the insurer should approve the treatments that the worker will undergo beforehand. However, the worker will not require the pre-approval of the insurer for expenses such as the initial treatment within 48 hours from the injury and the treatments in the emergency department of a public hospital. The insurer will test if the worker’s claim for recommended medical expenses is reasonably necessary by considering:
- if the treatment is necessitated as a result of the injury
- if the treatment will alleviate the pain and symptoms of the injury
- the availability of alternative treatment
When making a claim for compensation for medical expenses, the worker should provide the insurer with sufficient information so that the insurer can make a healthy decision regarding the reasonably necessary treatment. The provided information can include the workers compensation certificate of capacity, allied health recovery requests and the reports by the specialist. A treatment that is reasonably necessary for one worker may not be so for another.
For how long are you covered?
For a full breakdown, see our guide on how long you can stay on workers comp in Australia.
The entitlement period for compensation for medical costs will depend on whether the worker sustained a permanent impairment — see our workers compensation payout guide (NSW) for full entitlement details and the degree of it. Workers with no or less than 10% permanent impairment can claim compensation for medical expenses for two years after weekly payments ceased or for two years from the date of the claim if no weekly payments were made.
Workers with more than 10 but less than 20% permanent impairment can claim medical costs for five years after weekly payments ceased or for five years from the date of the claim if no weekly payments were made.
If a worker’s permanent impairment is assessed being at 20% or more, the worker is classified as a worker with high needs and may be eligible to receive medical treatment compensation for life. You may also want to consider whether you can retire while on workers compensation.
Workers Compensation Medical Expenses FAQ
What medical expenses does workers compensation cover in NSW?
What does reasonably necessary medical treatment mean?
Do I need pre-approval from the insurer before getting treatment?
How long can I claim medical expenses if my impairment is under 10%?
What if my permanent impairment is between 10% and 20%?
Can I get medical expenses covered for life?
Are travel and ambulance costs covered by workers compensation?
Can Withstand Lawyers help with a workers compensation medical expenses claim?
About the author
Issa Rabaya · Principal Lawyer and Director
✓ Admitted to the Supreme Court of NSW and High Court of Australia ✓ LLB ✓ IRO-approved ✓ Law Society of NSW
Acts for injured people in CTP, workers compensation, TPD and public liability claims.
Why Choose Withstand Lawyers for Your Workers Compensation Medical Expenses Claim?
When you are recovering from a work injury, the last thing you need is an insurer refusing the reasonably necessary treatment you are entitled to. Withstand Lawyers helps injured NSW workers claim the medical, rehabilitation and travel expenses the law provides, from the first 48 hours of treatment through to lifetime care for high-needs workers. We explain how permanent impairment thresholds shape your entitlements, push back when treatment is wrongly denied, and make sure nothing you are owed slips through. You focus on healing while we handle the insurer. Over $47 million recovered, 99% success rate, no win, no fee.
Call Withstand Lawyers on 1800 952 898 for your free claim check today.
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