Latest updates

Defence Health announces that former CEO, Joanne Kadlecik has passed away

It is with much sadness, that I advise that our former Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Joanne Kadlecik has passed away.

Joanne Kadlecik, was diagnosed with a serious medical condition in August 2023 and undertook a period of leave for treatment. In March this year Joanne informed the Board that due to health reasons she had to resign from the position.

Joanne was an outstanding leader, an asset to our organisation and a wonderful person, who will be sadly missed by her colleagues and many friends in the industry.

We hope Joanne’s family finds comfort in knowing her spirit lives on through the lives she touched, the legacy she created and the memories they made with her.

On behalf of the Board, Executive Committee and all our employees, we extend our deepest sympathies to her family.

Robin Burns
Chair

Accessing your documents

Please note that only policy holders and those with authority can access documents within a membership. If you require full access, please ask the policy holder to call us.

Your Defence Health tax information for 2024 

Your Private Health Insurance Statement (also known as your Tax Statement) contains information that’s used by the Tax Office.

  • We send the Tax Statement information to the Tax Office. This will populate your myTax online return by 15 July.
  • You can download your Tax Statement from 15 July. Just log in to your Member Portal then check the ‘View documents’ tab.
  • Any other questions? Find  help with your tax under Brochures.

As part of our responsibilities as your private health insurer we must report to you on a per-person basis. The Tax Office uses your individual share of premiums, Australian Government Rebate and period of hospital cover to calculate your tax. Please select the person-based statement(s) you wish to download.  

Visit the Member Portal to download past statements

If you have registered for and activated your Member Portal you can access the statements from the past three financial years. If you haven’t previously done so, you’ll need to register to activate your Member Portal  before you can access your tax statements.

How to register for the Member Portal

The first time you log in, you will need to take a few moments to register; this will give you access to your policy details and claims. You'll need to do this even if you were registered on the old website.  

Our video will guide you through the simple steps. 


Defence Health 2024 premium approved by the Minister 

The Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Mark Butler MP, has approved the 2024 health insurance premiums submitted by Defence Health.

The fund had frozen its premiums since 2022 to support its members during the recent period of inflation. Premiums must be adjusted in 2024 to keep pace with the rising cost of health care.  

The annual industry average premium is set to rise by 3.03% while the average 2024 Defence Health increase will be 1%. Both the deferred 2023 average premium increase of 3.48% and the 2024 premium change will take effect from 1 April 2024. 

Defence Health is a not-for-profit health fund, with any surplus reinvested in the fund for the benefit of all members. The fund aims to keep premiums as low as possible, while paying meaningful benefits towards medical and general treatment. 

Defence Health will boost the value of the dental benefits it pays on 1 July 2024. Benefits will increase across many general and major dental items, in addition to an increase to optical benefits.  

Defence Health will inform members of their premium changes in March 2024.

Leadership update - Defence Health CEO

Make payments online

We’ve added some new self-service functions to make it easier for you (or the policyholder) to update your policy in the Member Portal: 

  • Make an immediate online payment to your membership. Click the ‘Make a payment’ tile on the home page. 
  • Update the account that we pay your claims benefits into. Click the ‘Edit payment details’ tile on the home page, scroll down to select the member and then select ‘View and edit’ and choose 'Claims account' from the list. 
  • Change your payment method or the frequency of your premium payments. Click the ‘Edit payment details’ tile on the home page, scroll down to select the member and then select ‘View and edit’ and choose ‘Premium payment’ from the list. 
  • Order a new membership card from the member menu at the top of the portal.

Our contact centre hours 

Our call centre opening hours are: 

  • 8.30am to 7.00pm AEST Monday to Thursday 
  • 8.30am to 6.00pm AEST on Fridays.

Troubleshooting tips

Member Portal – A reminder that you need to register before using the Member Portal for the first time.

What can you currently do in the Member Portal?

Tax statements – Click the ‘View documents’ tile on the Member Portal homepage. We send tax information to the Tax Office for pre-filling of your  tax return. You can download your statement from 15 July.

Update payment details – Click the ‘Edit payment details’ tile to update your bank or credit card payment details. If you set a  future date for a change, the updated details will be visible from the day they apply.

Make an ‘Express Claim’ – For faster payment, some claims can be made through the Member Portal. Online claims through the Member Portal are usually paid within two business days. Snap and send from your mobile will take longer than claiming online.

You can claim the following services via Express Claim: general and major dental, optical, remedial massage, acupuncture and myotherapy, group physiotherapy, group exercise physiology, exercise physiology, psychology, speech therapy, occupational therapy, podiatry/chiropody, audiology, dietitian, physiotherapy, chiropractic/osteopathy.

Some handy hints 

To make your experience navigating our website easier, our team has created some helpful video tutorials which you can access below.