Defence Health

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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:

• Hospital Cover
• Extras Cover.

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.

Does Defence Health offer corporate policies?

Yes. Defence Health provides corporate policies to certain organisations. Search your organisation’s website or intranet to find out whether a corporate health insurance policy is available to you, and what conditions apply.

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

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

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Does Defence Health operate in all Australian states and territories?

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

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How does Defence Health Hospital Cover compare with other insurers?

Benchmark	Defence Health	Industry average
Member retention for Hospital Cover	91%	86.9%
% hospital-related charges covered	89.6%	89.9%

Source: Private Health Insurance Ombudsman: State of the Health Funds Report 2023

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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:

Location	Number of private Agreement Hospitals	Industry maximum
ACT	5	6
NSW	96	98
NT	2	2
QLD	51	60
SA	20	23
TAS	5	9
VIC	72	76
WA	22	24

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:

Location	Number of day Agreement Hospitals	Industry maximum
ACT	8	9
NSW	86	103
NT	1	2
QLD	47	57
SA	25	30
TAS	6	8
VIC	67	79
WA	19	24

Source: Defence Health: performance

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How does Defence Health Extras Cover compare with other insurers?

Benchmark	Defence Health	Industry average
% Extras Cover charges covered	41.7%	51.1%

Source: Private Health Insurance Ombudsman: State of the Health Funds Report 2023

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How does Defence Health compare with other private health insurers?

Benchmarks	Defence Health	Industry average
Market share	2.0%	–
% services with no gap	89.7%	88.3%
% services with no gap or where known gap payment made	97.8%	97.2%
Market share of complaints to the PHIO	1.5%	3.1%
% complaints investigated by the PHIO	2.2%	3.1%
Benefits as a % of contributions	76.4%	80.5%
Management expenses as a % of contribution income	12.0%	13.1%
Management expenses per average policy	$552	$592

Source: Private Health Insurance Ombudsman: State of the Health Funds Report 2023

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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.

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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.

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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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