Defence Health extras cover · restricted fund
Is Defence Health Lifestyle Extras worth it?
For one adult in NSW, it pays back more than it costs in one of the three ways of using extras worked through below, and costs more than it pays back in the other two. It is $72.00 a month before the rebate, $54.64 after.
Three ways of using it
Worked for one adult in NSW, under 65, on the 24.118% rebate, over a year, at typical prices: $200 for general dental, $300 for optical and $90 for physiotherapy.
One dental check-up a year
$618 behind
That costs $200 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $656 in premiums and get $38 back.
Against the 219 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this, it would sit 112th. nib’s DentalPass does best, $608 better off over the year.
Two dental visits and new glasses
$355 behind
That costs $700 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $656 in premiums and get $300 back.
Against the 189 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this, it would sit 84th. Latrobe’s Core Essential Extras does best, $405 better off over the year.
Two dental visits, new glasses and six physio sessions
+$95 ahead
That costs $1,240 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $656 in premiums and get $750 back.
Against the 181 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this, it would sit 30th. HCF’s Flex My Extras does best, $275 better off over the year.
Your year won’t look like any of those.
Put in what you actually use and the calculator sets this policy beside every other one, with the working.
What it pays
| Service | Benefit | Yearly limit | Wait |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Dental | $38 a visit | Not published | 2 months |
| Major Dental | $125 a visit | $700shared with endodontic (root canal) | 12 months |
| Endodontic (Root Canal) | $117 a visit | $700shared with major dental | 12 months |
| Orthodontic | $700 a visit | $700 | 12 months |
| Optical | 100% of the fee | $225 | 2 months |
| Non-PBS Medications | $60 a visit | $150shared with vaccinations | 2 months |
| Physiotherapy | $97 a visit first, then $79 a visit | $450shared with exercise physiology | 2 months |
| Chiropractic | $66 a visit first, then $43 a visit | $400shared with osteopathy | 2 months |
| Podiatry | $68 a visit first, then $55 a visit | $250shared with orthotics | 2 months |
| Psychology | $200 a visit first, then $165 a visit | $300 | 2 months |
| Acupuncture | $76 a visit first, then $62 a visit | $250shared with remedial massage | 2 months |
| Remedial Massage | $60 a visit first, then $52 a visit | $250shared with acupuncture | 2 months |
| Hearing Aids | $1000 a visit | $1,000 | 12 months |
| Glucose Monitor | $50 a visit | $300shared with health management | 12 months |
| Audiology | $145 a visit first, then $115 a visit | $400shared with antenatal/postnatal, dietetics, orthoptics, occupational therapy and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Antenatal/Postnatal | $40 a visit | $400shared with audiology, dietetics, orthoptics, occupational therapy and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Dietetics | $105 a visit first, then $68 a visit | $400shared with audiology, antenatal/postnatal, orthoptics, occupational therapy and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Exercise Physiology | $77 a visit first, then $54 a visit | $450shared with physiotherapy | 2 months |
| Orthoptics | $118 a visit first, then $112 a visit | $400shared with audiology, antenatal/postnatal, dietetics, occupational therapy and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Health Management | $20 a visit | $300shared with glucose monitor | 2 months |
| Occupational Therapy | $103 a visit first, then $81 a visit | $400shared with audiology, antenatal/postnatal, dietetics, orthoptics and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Orthotics | $100 a visit | $250shared with podiatry | 12 months |
| Osteopathy | $80 a visit first, then $65 a visit | $400shared with chiropractic | 2 months |
| Speech Therapy | $155 a visit first, then $91 a visit | $400shared with audiology, antenatal/postnatal, dietetics, orthoptics and occupational therapy | 2 months |
| Vaccinations | $60 a visit | $150shared with non-pbs medications | 2 months |
As listed for one adult in NSW. A percentage is of the provider’s fee; a dollar figure is the most paid per visit. Where a benefit differs by item, the commonest one is shown.
Conditions to know
Multiple services share a single annual limit pool.
What it costs
| State | Single | Couple | Family | Single parent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $72.00 | $144.00 | $144.00 | $72.00 |
| VIC | $72.00 | $144.00 | $144.00 | $72.00 |
| QLD | $72.00 | $144.00 | $144.00 | $72.00 |
| WA | $72.00 | $144.00 | $144.00 | $72.00 |
| SA | $72.00 | $144.00 | $144.00 | $72.00 |
| TAS | $72.00 | $144.00 | $144.00 | $72.00 |
| NT | $72.00 | $144.00 | $144.00 | $72.00 |
Listed premiums a month, before the rebate. The rebate takes 24.118% off for most households under 65.
What beats it
For two dental visits and new glasses, from funds anyone can join:
- 1Latrobe Core Essential Extras+$49 ahead
- 2Health Partners Flex Extras: Eyes+$47 ahead
- 3HCF Flex My Extras+$45 ahead
Worked from the Australian Government’s Private Health Open Listing, 01-Oct-2026, with the same sums as the calculator: listed premiums after the rebate, benefits capped by each policy’s limits and waiting periods. Product code I9/NLVH10 on privatehealth.gov.au. How the sums work.
This is general information, not personal financial advice. Confirm the premium and benefits with the fund before you buy or switch. Independent of every fund listed · No affiliate fees, no commissions.