ADF Family Health

Content of this page updated: 17 October 2008

Provision of Healthcare to ADF Dependants

The Government is committed to recognising the service and sacrifices of ADF personnel and the important and valuable role their families play in the achievement of the Defence mission.  The families of those serving Australia deserve full support and this trial is aimed at evaluating a model of healthcare that will benefit our ADF families.

The trial will commence May 2009 in Singleton (NSW), East Sale (VIC), Cairns, including Weipa, Mt Isa and Thursday Island (QLD), Katherine (NT) and the Karratha/Pilbara region (WA) providing benefits to approximately 2,700 dependants.

In line with the Government’s election promise to progressively extend free basic medical and dental care, the trial will be extended to include Townsville (QLD), Darwin (NT) and Puckapunyal (VIC) from October 2009.  Approximately 12,200 dependants in these regions will have access to the benefits associated with this trial.

The medical component of this trial is based on a payment being made to general practitioners who participate in a program to bulk bill eligible dependants.  To support this model of delivery, Defence has approached the Australian General Practice Network and the Divisions of General Practice in each of the targeted regions with a view to enlisting the support of general practitioners.

Defence is currently preparing to go to tender for the dental claims component.  Basic dental services, capped at $300 per dependant per year, may be accessed by eligible dependants at any dental practice in Australia.  Only dental services that are GST-free are eligible for reimbursement and dependants are encouraged to consult with their dentist about what items are covered under this requirement.

The extension of the trial in October 2009 is the next step in achieving the Government’s commitment to provide basic healthcare to ADF dependants.

17 October, 2008