DECIDING IF PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE IS FOR YOU
Understanding your healthcare options plays an important role in ensuring you, and your family have the right type and level of health insurance coverage in your post-service life. Learn about the healthcare considerations specific to individuals holding DVA White and Gold Cards, and broader considerations that may apply to you regardless of military background.
DECIDING IF PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE IS FOR YOU
Understanding your healthcare options plays an important role in ensuring you, and your family have the right type and level of health insurance coverage in your post-service life. Learn about the healthcare considerations specific to individuals holding DVA White and Gold Cards, and broader considerations that may apply to you regardless of military background.
Leaving the Australian Defence Force marks a significant transition in your life, and it is important to consider your, and your family’s health care needs post-service. As you transition to civilian life, treatment at Joint Health Command and the ADF Family Health program are no longer available, so you will need to review your healthcare needs including any medical conditions any future health concerns you may have, and any life changes you may anticipate, such as starting a family.
After reviewing your current and future health care needs, you can choose whether to take out private health insurance or rely solely on public system or DVA benefits, and pay out-of-pocket for services like dental, chiro, optical.
If you are a veteran who holds a DVA Gold or White Card, there are additional factors to consider when evaluating your health care needs. With a DVA Gold or White card you are already entitled to healthcare benefits that will be covered by DVA for either all medically necessary conditions or just your accepted liability conditions, respectively. Therefore, you will need to determine whether or not additional private health insurance is required alongside your DVA benefits either now, or in the future.
REVIEW YOUR HEALTHCARE NEEDS IN LIFE AFTER ADF SERVICE
Let’s explore the healthcare benefits of your DVA card, and whether you might want to consider private health insurance.
I have a DVA Gold Card
A DVA Gold Card provides a broad range of health cover entitlements for clinically required medical treatment in Australia. The treatment is usually free if the provider accepts the Veteran Gold Card, and other services are available at low-cost. For a full list of benefits, you will need to contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Since a Gold Card generally covers you for anything clinically necessary, most DVA Gold Card holders won’t necessarily need private health cover. However, some DVA Gold Card holders consider taking out private health insurance as it allows them to choose their specialist. For some ancillary services such as hearing aids, it may also offer limits of cover that are higher than what is provided by DVA. Gold Card holders are usually assigned a specialist by DVA when they require health treatments or services. If they find their own providers, they are limited to those who accept DVA Card. For those wanting to choose their own specialist, they might want to consider taking out private health insurance.
If you have a DVA Gold Card and are considering taking up private health insurance, we recommend you review your Gold Card benefits and assess whether private health insurance may provide any additional value to you based on your personal healthcare needs and preferences.
I have a DVA White Card
A DVA White card helps cover the costs of clinically required medical services and treatments in Australia to manage and treat mental health conditions, as well as any specific liability-accepted health conditions related to the individual’s military service. It also provides cover for the treatment of cancer (malignant neoplasm) and pulmonary tuberculosis.
Depending on your service-related medical conditions, treatments covered by your DVA White Card may include:
- Treatment at a hospital/day procedure facility
- Treatment provided by an allied health professional (e.g., physiotherapist)
- Treatment by a GP or specialist
- Treatment by a dental or optical professional
- Medicines at the cheaper concession rate
- Community nursing
- Pathology and medical imaging
It is important to note that, beyond mental health, cancer, and tuberculosis, coverage provided by your DVA White Card will be specific to your liability-accepted, service-related conditions. If you have ongoing or future health concerns that are not service-related, you may want to consider taking out private health insurance to supplement your White Card benefits.
There are a number of factors to consider when deciding whether to take up private health insurance in addition to your DVA White Card.
- Choice and control: A DVA White Card will only cover you for medical services and treatments that are necessary to manage and treat mental health, cancer, tuberculosis, and the specific liability-accepted health conditions and injuries related to the person’s military service. To confirm these accepted conditions, we recommend that you contact the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Once your accepted benefits are confirmed, if there are additional services you would like cover for, then taking out private health insurance might be beneficial.
- Cover for family and couples: While the DVA White Card will cover the card holder, their family members’ health expenses will not be covered. For this reason, a Veteran White Card holder may consider taking out a family or couple private health insurance policy so that their family is covered. Navy Health will also offer a discount to Veteran Card Holders.
- Tax incentives: Having private health insurance can help you avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge if you earn over a certain income level. Otherwise, the MLS increases the amount of tax paid if you don’t have private Hospital cover.
Future Healthcare Considerations
In addition to the healthcare considerations specific to individuals holding DVA White and Gold Cards, it is important to recognise broader future healthcare considerations that may apply to you and/or your family, regardless of military background.
One important aspect to consider is if you plan to have children. If you are considering starting a family, it may be advantageous to take out private health insurance as soon as possible. This is because most policies will have a 12-month waiting period for pregnancy-related services. With private health insurance, you may have the option to give birth in a private hospital, which can often offer more personalised care, comfortable amenities, the option to stay in hospital longer, and a quieter environment compared to public hospitals.
As you plan for the future, we recommend a regular review of your health insurance coverage to ensure that it continues to align with your changing needs and circumstances. Life events such as getting married, having children, or experiencing changes in employment may impact your healthcare needs, and adjusting your coverage accordingly is essential.
Future Healthcare Considerations
In addition to the healthcare considerations specific to individuals holding DVA White and Gold Cards, it is important to recognise broader future healthcare considerations that may apply to you and/or your family, regardless of military background.
One important aspect to consider is if you plan to have children. If you are considering starting a family, it may be advantageous to take out private health insurance as soon as possible. This is because most policies will have a 12-month waiting period for pregnancy-related services. With private health insurance, you may have the option to give birth in a private hospital, which can often offer more personalised care, comfortable amenities, the option to stay in hospital longer, and a quieter environment compared to public hospitals.
As you plan for the future, we recommend a regular review of your health insurance coverage to ensure that it continues to align with your changing needs and circumstances. Life events such as getting married, having children, or experiencing changes in employment may impact your healthcare needs, and adjusting your coverage accordingly is essential.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT LEVEL OF COVER FOR YOU AND/OR YOUR FAMILY
Choosing the right level of Hospital and Extras cover for yourself and/or your family is an important decision which relies on your individual needs and financial circumstances. The process requires careful consideration of your health requirements, lifestyle, budget, and reassurance needs.
Hospital Cover
Do you want the reassurance that comes with a higher level of Hospital cover? A higher level of Hospital cover means you will be able to claim for a wider range of services. This can offer you peace of mind, knowing that you will have access to more extensive medical options when you may need it. You will also need to consider any health conditions or treatments you currently have, and any potential future health concerns.
Finally, you should evaluate the cost-effectiveness of higher-level hospital cover. While comprehensive coverage may provide more services, it also typically comes with higher premiums. Assess whether the additional services covered justify the increased cost and align with your health priorities.
To compare each of our Hospital cover options, visit our Hospital Cover page.
Extras Cover
Choosing the right level of Extras cover for you or your family is highly dependent on your own personal needs and budgets. Start by considering your (and if relevant, your family’s) health and lifestyle needs, then determine which services are most important to you, and which ones you currently use. Do you wear glasses? Do you plan on having children? Are you active and require physio, acupuncture, or massages to be included in your benefits?
Next you will need to consider which of these services you plan to use most and estimate how much you plan to spend on these services annually. If you’re likely to need more optical services such as glasses and contact lenses for either yourself or your family, then you may want to consider a more comprehensive level of cover.
To compare each of our Extras cover options, visit our Extras Cover page.
