Defence Health extras cover · restricted fund
Is Defence Health Top Extras worth it?
For one adult in NSW, it costs more than it pays back in all three of the ways of using extras worked through below. It is $63.95 a month before the rebate, $48.53 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
$547 behind
That costs $200 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $582 in premiums and get $35 back.
Against the 219 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this, it would sit 104th. nib’s DentalPass does best, $537 better off over the year.
Two dental visits and new glasses
$257 behind
That costs $700 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $582 in premiums and get $326 back.
Against the 189 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this, it would sit 64th. Latrobe’s Core Essential Extras does best, $306 better off over the year.
Two dental visits, new glasses and six physio sessions
$23 behind
That costs $1,240 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $582 in premiums and get $560 back.
Against the 181 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this, it would sit 58th. HCF’s Flex My Extras does best, $392 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 | $35 a visit | Not published | 2 months |
| Major Dental | $133 a visit | $850shared with endodontic (root canal) | 12 months |
| Endodontic (Root Canal) | $137 a visit | $850shared with major dental | 12 months |
| Orthodontic | $800 a visit | $800 | 12 months |
| Optical | 100% of the fee | $255 | 2 months |
| Non-PBS Medications | $80 a visit | $500shared with vaccinations | 2 months |
| Physiotherapy | $50 a visit first, then $39 a visit | $550shared with antenatal/postnatal | 2 months |
| Chiropractic | $45 a visit first, then $32 a visit | $450shared with osteopathy | 2 months |
| Podiatry | $45 a visit first, then $32 a visit | $300 | 2 months |
| Psychology | $80 a visit first, then $70 a visit | $400 | 2 months |
| Acupuncture | $31 a visit first, then $27 a visit | $300shared with remedial massage, exercise physiology and health management | 2 months |
| Remedial Massage | $31 a visit first, then $27 a visit | $300shared with acupuncture, exercise physiology and health management | 2 months |
| Hearing Aids | Covered, amount not published as a set figure | $1,000shared with glucose monitor and orthotics | 12 months |
| Glucose Monitor | Covered, amount not published as a set figure | $1,000shared with hearing aids and orthotics | 12 months |
| Audiology | $60 a visit first, then $40 a visit | $200 | 2 months |
| Antenatal/Postnatal | $20 a visit | $550shared with physiotherapy | 2 months |
| Dietetics | $50 a visit first, then $30 a visit | $250 | 2 months |
| Exercise Physiology | $31 a visit first, then $27 a visit | $300shared with acupuncture, remedial massage and health management | 2 months |
| Orthoptics | $50 a visit first, then $35 a visit | $500 | 2 months |
| Health Management | $80 a visit | $300shared with acupuncture, remedial massage and exercise physiology | 2 months |
| Home Nursing | $32 a visit | $1,000 | 2 months |
| Occupational Therapy | $65 a visit first, then $40 a visit | $500 | 2 months |
| Orthotics | Covered, amount not published as a set figure | $1,000shared with hearing aids and glucose monitor | 12 months |
| Osteopathy | $45 a visit first, then $32 a visit | $450shared with chiropractic | 2 months |
| Speech Therapy | $85 a visit first, then $45 a visit | $500 | 2 months |
| Vaccinations | $80 a visit | $500shared 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.
What it costs
| State | Single | Couple | Family | Single parent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $63.95 | $127.90 | $143.89 | $63.95 |
| VIC | $67.16 | $134.32 | $151.11 | $67.16 |
| QLD | $66.52 | $133.04 | $149.67 | $66.52 |
| WA | $64.65 | $129.30 | $145.46 | $64.65 |
| SA | $69.72 | $139.44 | $156.87 | $69.72 |
| TAS | $62.70 | $125.40 | $141.08 | $62.70 |
| NT | $60.91 | $121.82 | $137.05 | $60.91 |
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 I1/NCAP10 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.