Joint Health Command

ADF Family Health
INFORMATION FOR DENTISTS

Page updated 19 November, 2009

Thank you for visiting the official website for the ADF Family Health initiative.
This initiative recognises the service and sacrifices of our Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their families (dependants), and the difficulties many Defence families experience accessing affordable healthcare upon relocation. The initiative also recognises that to support members within the ADF, their families need to be cared for, and this initiative aims to improve the retention and recruitment of our Defence force.
A trial is being conducted in 8 regional and remote locations.
Stage 1 of the trial commenced 1 May 2009 in the following locations:

• Sale (VIC),
• Singleton (NSW),
• Cairns including Thursday Island, Mt Isa and Weipa (QLD),
• Katherine (NT) including Derby (WA) and
• the Pilbara region including Karratha, Port Hedland, Carnarvon, Newman, Exmouth and Tom Price (WA).

Stage 2 of the trial will commence 1 October 2009 and will include:

• Townsville including Tully (QLD),
• Darwin including Alice Springs and Nhulunbuy (NT) as well as Broome and Kununurra (WA); and
• Puckapunyal (VIC).

The Program is intended to cover non-cosmetic “GST” free dental services to the value of $300 per calendar year per Defence family member. The $300 benefit is not transferable between family members and cannot be carried over into a new calendar year.

If an ADF Family member requires treatment that is not a “GST” free dental service usual billing practice should apply.  The trial does not require dental practices to make any changes to existing fee structures or practices – business as usual.

Dental services can be accessed at any dentist anywhere in Australia.

Defence family members who have registered for the trial will be issued with the ADF Family Health Card, and those registered for the Dental component will be identified with a “D” beside their name as per the illustration below:

Whilst this initiative is not a private health insurance product, the ADF Family Health dental benefit is administered by Navy Health Ltd, and eligible dental claims can be made via HICAPS electronic processing.

Electronic Claim Processing

The ADF Family Health Card can be used for electronic claiming via HICAPS.

The ADF Family Health Card can be used in conjunction with private health insurance. It is recommended that claims be electronically submitted to the private health insurer prior to processing the ADF Family Health Card.  The ADF Family Health Card can then be used to claim the gap, up to the available limit.  Any remaining amounts must be paid by the ADF family member.

NOTE:  The ADF Family Health Card may not be compatible with all dental practice software. If the practice is unable to electronically process any claim the ADF family member should pay for their visit and follow the manual claims processing procedures outlined below.

Manual Claims Processing

If electronic claims processing is not available, the ADF family member should pay for their visit and claim reimbursement from the program using the claim form provided to them on the Department of Defence website.

Assistance

For information related to eligible services or payments please call Navy Health on 1300 561 454.

For any other information related to the Program, please contact the Department of Defence on 02 6266 3547

Contacts