Defence Health extras cover · restricted fund
Is Defence Health Value 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 $72.75 a month before the rebate, $55.20 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
$625 behind
That costs $200 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $662 in premiums and get $38 back.
Against the 219 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this, it would sit 114th. nib’s DentalPass does best, $615 better off over the year.
Two dental visits and new glasses
$332 behind
That costs $700 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $662 in premiums and get $330 back.
Against the 189 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this, it would sit 80th. Latrobe’s Core Essential Extras does best, $381 better off over the year.
Two dental visits, new glasses and six physio sessions
+$142 ahead
That costs $1,240 with no cover. On this policy you’d pay $662 in premiums and get $804 back.
Against the 181 policies from funds anyone can join that cover this, it would sit 21st. HCF’s Flex My Extras does best, $228 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 | $900shared with endodontic (root canal) | 12 months |
| Endodontic (Root Canal) | $117 a visit | $900shared 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 | $400shared with vaccinations | 2 months |
| Physiotherapy | $97 a visit first, then $79 a visit | $600 | 2 months |
| Chiropractic | $66 a visit first, then $43 a visit | $550shared with osteopathy | 2 months |
| Podiatry | $68 a visit first, then $55 a visit | $900shared with psychology, audiology, antenatal/postnatal, dietetics, exercise physiology, orthoptics, occupational therapy and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Psychology | $222 a visit first, then $165 a visit | $900shared with podiatry, audiology, antenatal/postnatal, dietetics, exercise physiology, orthoptics, occupational therapy and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Acupuncture | $76 a visit first, then $62 a visit | $300shared with remedial massage and health management | 2 months |
| Remedial Massage | $60 a visit first, then $52 a visit | $300shared with acupuncture and health management | 2 months |
| Hearing Aids | Covered, amount not published as a set figure | $1,000shared with glucose monitor | 12 months |
| Glucose Monitor | Covered, amount not published as a set figure | $1,000shared with hearing aids | 12 months |
| Audiology | $145 a visit first, then $115 a visit | $900shared with podiatry, psychology, antenatal/postnatal, dietetics, exercise physiology, orthoptics, occupational therapy and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Antenatal/Postnatal | $40 a visit | $900shared with podiatry, psychology, audiology, dietetics, exercise physiology, orthoptics, occupational therapy and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Dietetics | $105 a visit first, then $68 a visit | $900shared with podiatry, psychology, audiology, antenatal/postnatal, exercise physiology, orthoptics, occupational therapy and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Exercise Physiology | $77 a visit first, then $54 a visit | $900shared with podiatry, psychology, audiology, antenatal/postnatal, dietetics, orthoptics, occupational therapy and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Orthoptics | $118 a visit first, then $112 a visit | $900shared with podiatry, psychology, audiology, antenatal/postnatal, dietetics, exercise physiology, occupational therapy and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Health Management | $100 a visit | $300shared with acupuncture and remedial massage | 2 months |
| Occupational Therapy | $103 a visit first, then $81 a visit | $900shared with podiatry, psychology, audiology, antenatal/postnatal, dietetics, exercise physiology, orthoptics and speech therapy | 2 months |
| Osteopathy | $80 a visit first, then $65 a visit | $550shared with chiropractic | 2 months |
| Speech Therapy | $155 a visit first, then $91 a visit | $900shared with podiatry, psychology, audiology, antenatal/postnatal, dietetics, exercise physiology, orthoptics and occupational therapy | 2 months |
| Vaccinations | $80 a visit | $400shared 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 | $72.75 | $145.50 | $145.50 | $72.75 |
| VIC | $77.46 | $154.92 | $154.92 | $77.46 |
| QLD | $75.21 | $150.42 | $150.42 | $75.21 |
| WA | $73.51 | $147.02 | $147.02 | $73.51 |
| SA | $77.09 | $154.18 | $154.18 | $77.09 |
| TAS | $69.47 | $138.94 | $138.94 | $69.47 |
| NT | $65.22 | $130.44 | $130.44 | $65.22 |
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 I4/NCEQ10 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.