15 February 2023
Defence Health introduced the COVID-19 Member Support Program in March 2020 to help our members during the coronavirus pandemic.
We’ve provided a range of support, including the delay of premium changes and return of COVID-lockdown savings as cash payments to members.
Three years down the track, we continue to monitor the pandemic’s impact on the health system and the economy.
Further financial relief for members
We’ve postponed the April 2023 premium adjustment until 1 April 2024.
We’re making additional give back payments to eligible* members in March 2023 – bringing total COVID relief since March 2020 to $98.8 million.
We’ll contact our members in March with give back payment details - to be paid at the end of March.
Private hospital cover more important than ever
The waiting times for patients in public hospitals have extended to new records since the pandemic. Private hospital cover gives you greater control over the timing of elective surgery and gives you the choice of doctor for your treatment.
APRA data indicates the number of people with private health cover has increased in every quarter since the beginning of the pandemic. At the end of September 2022, a record 11.76 million people held private hospital cover. While they have control of their health care options, they also help to relieve the pressure on public hospitals.
*To be eligible for the COVID-19 lockdown give back payment you must have been a member for at least 90 days between 1 March 2020 and 30 June 2022