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Insurer

Defence Health

Reviewed and updated 16 March 2024

About Defence Health

What is Defence Health?

Defence Health is a private health insurer that operates as a restricted health fund.

Who can join Defence Health? 

Defence Health is a restricted health fund for former members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). You can join Defence Health if you are a: 

  • partner or child of an ADF member
  • previous ADF member or Reservists
  • current or former employee of ADF supporter, which includes:
    • the Department of Defence 
    • a Defence-related department
    • a Defence- supplier
  • member of the extended family of a current or former ADF member or ADF supporter. 

If you are a permanent member of the ADF, you do not need to take out cover because you are already covered. Instead, Defence Health is designed to provide health cover to the wider defence community.

What products does Defence Health offer?

Defence Health offers:

Do Defence Health policies include Ambulance Cover?

Defence Health includes comprehensive Ambulance Cover with:

  • Hospital Cover
  • Extras Cover.

This includes land, air and sea ambulance services in emergency and non-emergency situations. 

It also covers mobile intensive care. 

The Ambulance Cover in these policies does not include patient transport services.


Is Defence Health a not-for-profit health insurer?

Yes. Defence Health is a not-for-profit health insurer.


Does Defence Health operate in all Australian states and territories?

Yes. Defence Health operates in all Australian states and territories.


How does Defence Health Hospital Cover compare with other insurers?

BenchmarkDefence HealthIndustry average
Member retention for Hospital Cover89.9%88.6%
% hospital-related charges covered90.3%90.6%

Source: Private Health Insurance Ombudsman: State of the Health Funds Report: 2022


Does Defence Health have agreements with some private hospitals or day hospitals to provide services at low cost or with no out-of-pocket costs?

Yes. Defence Health has agreements with a number of private hospitals that allow it to provide services to its members at low cost or with no out-of-pocket costs:

LocationNumber of private Agreement HospitalsIndustry maximum
ACT56
NSW9698
NT22
QLD 5160
SA2023
TAS59
VIC7276
WA2224

Defence Health also has agreements with a number of day hospitals so it can provide services at low cost or with no out-of-pocket costs:

LocationNumber of day Agreement HospitalsIndustry maximum
ACT89
NSW86103
NT12
QLD4757
SA2530
TAS68
VIC6779
WA1924

Source: Defence Health: performance


How does Defence Health Extras Cover compare with other insurers?

BenchmarkDefence HealthIndustry average
% Extras Cover charges covered43.7%52.0%

Source: Private Health Insurance Ombudsman: State of the Health Funds Report: 2022


How does Defence Health compare with other private health insurers?

BenchmarksDefence HealthIndustry average
Market share2.0%
% services with no gap90.2%88.8%
% services with no gap or where known gap payment made97.9%97.4%
Market share of complaints to the PHIO1.6%
% complaints investigated by the PHIO3.3%
Benefits as a % of contributions86.8%83.1%
Management expenses as a % of contribution income10.3%9.9%
Management expenses per average policy$465$375

Source: Private Health Insurance Ombudsman: State of the Health Funds Report: 2022


Is Defence Health a member of any industry associations?

Defence Health is a member of Private Healthcare Australia (PHA), a body that represents 20 registered health insurers and 97% of people covered by private health insurance. 

It is also a member of the Members Health Fund Alliance, an alliance of not-for-profit, member-owned, regional or community-based health insurers.


Does Defence Health let me claim online or via an app?

Yes. Defence Health allows you to make a claim using Online Member Services or using the mobile claiming app.


How to contact Defence Health

Phone:

1800 335 425

Website:

http://www.defencehealth.com.au

Email:

info@defencehealth.com.au

Address:

Level 7
380 St Kilda Road
MELBOURNE VIC 3004

Postal address:

PO Box 7518
MELBOURNE VIC 3004


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