ADF Family Health
Frequently Asked Questions - Miscellaneous
Page updated
19 November, 2009
- Will others family members know if I attend the doctor or dentist?
- If I have private health insurance, how do I claim my $300 dental benefit?
- Can I access medical and dental services at a health centre on a military base?
- How will this initiative impact the wider community?
- The Government originally stated that it would “extend the free GP and dental care currently available to ADF personnel to their dependent spouses and children”. Why is there now a limit to this provision?
- Will this trial impact the healthcare currently provided to ADF members?
- How will the GP Super Clinics support Defence families?
- Am I permitted to have more than 1 ADF Family Health Card for my dependants?
- I am a single parent and permanent ADF member. Do I need to obtain a Statutory Declaration from my ex-partner to register my dependants for the trial?
- How long does it take to process my registration form, and how long should I expect to wait until I receive my ADF Family Health Card?
- I have foster children in my care who are recognised dependants. Can I sign as the Guardian if I do not have official guardianship of the children?
1. Will others family members know if I attend the doctor or dentist?
Yes, in line with the fringe benefits reporting requirements, a record of visits will be kept and is provided to the ADF member responsible for the fringe benefit. The record will indicate that a fringe benefit was received, the value of the benefit and the date. No other detail will be provided. This trial will adhere to the Privacy Act 1988, and consent to participate in the trial will be required from those dependants aged 14 years and above who have the capacity to give consent. Children under 14 may have consent granted by their parent/guardian.
2. If I have private health insurance, how do I claim my $300 dental benefit?
Most dental practices now have electronic claims processing. If your dentist has electronic claims processing, simply present your private health insurance card to claim your private health insurance benefit. You may then use your ADF Family Health card to electronically claim the difference against your remaining ADF Family Health benefit. The $300 benefit is provided each calendar year for each registered dependant. NOTE: Not all dental practices with electronic claims processing will be able to process your ADF Family Health benefit, and a manual claim will need to be submitted to ADF Family Health.
In the event that the dental practice does not provide electronic claiming, you will be required to pay your account in full. You may then claim from your private health insurance, before submitting a claim form to ADF Family Health for the gap.
Example: $600 dental claim. Claim against your private health insurance, which results in a $350 gap. Claim the gap against the remaining ADF Family Health benefit. Assuming the full benefit of $300 is available, only pay the remaining $50.
Note: Claiming from your private health insurance as well as the ADF Family Health benefit, where the total amount payable by all sources exceeds the amount charged for the service, is a breach of the conditions of use. It is the participant's responsibility to check with their private health insurer to verify how their ADFFH entitlements may impact benefit claims against the fund. Benefits may be reduced where monies are payable from other sources for the same service.
3. Can I access medical and dental services at a health centre on a military base?
No, the services provided under this trial do not include services provided on base. These remain for the benefit of ADF members.
4. How will this initiative impact the wider community?
There will be no additional impact to the wider community. Dependants will be accessing the same dental and medical services within the community that they have always had access to.
5. The Government originally stated that it would “extend the free GP and dental care currently available to ADF personnel to their dependent spouses and children”. Why is there now a limit to this provision?
The trial will be conducted in accordance with the Government’s evidence-based approach, which evaluates new policy through small-scale pilot studies. The regions to be trialled are:
- Singleton (NSW);
- Cairns and Townsville, including Weipa, Mt Isa, Tully and Thursday Island (QLD);
- Sale and Puckapunyal (VIC);
- Katherine and Darwin, including Alice Springs and Nhulunbuy (NT); and
- the Pilbara region, including Karratha, Port Hedland, Tom Price, Newman, Exmouth and Carnarvon, as well as Broome, Kununurra and Derby (WA).
Evaluation of the trial will form the basis of a long term strategy for ADF dependant healthcare.
6. Will this trial impact the healthcare currently provided to ADF members?
No, dependants will utilise services from within the community.
7. How will the GP Super Clinics support Defence families?
The Australian Government has committed $223 million over four years, starting in 2007-08, to establish GP Super Clinics in 31 localities across Australia. GP Super Clinics will support the general community in each of these 31 locations by bringing together general practitioners, nurses, visiting medical specialists, allied health professionals and other healthcare providers to deliver healthcare, tailored to the needs and priorities of the local community. As part of the local community, Defence families will be able to access the services provided through the clinics.
The Department of Health and Aging (DOHA) is managing the GP Super Clinic project and more information can be found at - GP Super Clinics
8. Am I permitted to have more than 1 ADF Family Health Card for my dependants?
Answer: Yes. Contact Navy Health Ltd and they will be happy to issue you with an additional card.
9. I am a single parent and permanent ADF member. Do I need to obtain a Statutory Declaration from my ex-partner to register my dependants for the trial?
Answer: No. As it is the ADF member’s individual Payment Summary that may be affected by possible fringe benefits, it is not necessary to obtain a Statutory Declaration for your dependants to participate in the trial.
10. How long does it take to process my registration form, and how long should I expect to wait until I receive my ADF Family Health Card?
Answer: From the time your form is received by the ADF Family Health Directorate, it should take approximately days to process your form. You can expect to receive your card within days of completion of the registration. However, delays in registration do occur, and we encourage all members registering their dependants to utilise the Checklist to reduce these delays.
11. I have foster children in my care who are recognised dependants. Can I sign as the Guardian if I do not have official guardianship of the children?
Answer: Yes. If the foster children are recognised dependants, and are under 14 years of age, you may sign as their guardian. If the dependant is over 14 years of age, and has the capacity to sign, they must read the conditions of use and sign the form.
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