If service record matters to you
Defence Health's share of Ombudsman complaints is above its share of the health insurance market. Check the service record alongside the cover you need.
Defence Health insurance
Is it a good health insurer?
Defence Health has 13 hospital and 9 extras policies in our comparison, from $100.16 a month for hospital cover (Single · NSW · $500 hospital excess, after rebate).
Issued by Defence Health Limited. Hospital, extras or both.
Explore 13 hospital and 9 extras products, or find cover by treatment. Sources for Defence Health
Reviewed, Edited and Designed by
Grace Connolly
Created with AI assistance
Page updated 26 October 2026 · Prices effective 6 August 2026
I need cover for…
Compare cover across all Australian health funds.
Defence Health cover: the main choices.
Reviews and complaints
For pregnancy and birth
Value Hospital Silver Plus covers pregnancy and birth. Check the hospital cover for exclusions and restricted benefits before choosing.
Compare the cover, not just the premium
Compare Core Hospital Silver Plus with Navy Health and Teachers Health before choosing on price. Their cover differs for pain management with a device.
Defence Health policies and example prices.
The profile you choose updates the Defence Health price tables, hospital shortlist and alternative-policy comparison below.
Single · NSW · $500 hospital excess · example premiums after rebate.
Monthly examples include the 24.118% government rebate, the maximum for adults under 65. Your rebate and final quote may differ.
Need a Defence Health price for your circumstances? Compare Defence Health with cover across all Australian health funds.
Compare my optionsHospital cover
13 product lines
Defence Health sells Connections Hospital Gold only with certain Defence Health extras policies.
$26.17 more per month for Value Hospital Silver Plus versus Core Hospital Silver Plus after rebate for the selected example profile.
Pain management with a device is an additional inclusion, not the complete list of differences.
Extras cover
9 product lines
What does Defence Health hospital insurance cover?
5 Defence Health hospital policies fully cover cataracts
Single · NSW · $500 hospital excess. Only policies that fully include cataracts are shown. Connections Hospital Gold is sold only with certain Defence Health extras policies, so its hospital price is not the whole cost. How we read hospital categories
Compare selected treatment categories across all 13 hospital policies
Selected Defence Health treatment categories.
More premium does not mean more back on everything.
Defence Health extras limits per 12 months unless the statement says otherwise
Single-policy examples. Each links to its policy statement.
Standard Extras → Premier Extras
The optical limits move from $150 to $300 for the Single-policy examples. Premier Extras raises the physio limit from $450 to $850. It also raises the major dental limit from $400 to $1,100 and adds psychology.
Premier Extras: higher benefit examples
The optical examples stay at 100%, with a $300 optical limit and $850 physio limit for the Single-policy example.Compare these benefits with the premium.
Why Defence Health's shared limits and waiting periods matter
Every optical benefit shown has a standard waiting period of 2 months.
Defence Health vs. Navy Health vs. Teachers Health
How Defence Health compares with similar hospital policies.
These are selected Silver Plus examples from Navy Health and Teachers Health, not identical policies or a search for the cheapest cover across the market.
Comparing Defence Health Core Hospital Silver Plus with Navy Health Core Silver+ Hospital and Teachers Health Mid Classic (Silver Plus). Single · NSW · $500 hospital excess · Silver Plus hospital cover
Defence Health and selected alternatives: monthly prices and verified coverage differences.
What the differences mean for you
Different policies can come with different treatment benefits. Check whether these differences matter for the cover you need.
Pain management with a device: included with Navy Health and Teachers Health; not included with Defence Health.
These alternatives match Defence Health Core Hospital Silver Plus on tier, cataracts and joint replacements. Like Defence Health, these funds limit membership to their eligible communities, so check that you qualify. How we choose alternatives
Compare all 38 hospital treatment categories
Defence Health and the alternatives: all 38 treatment categories, policy information as at 26 October 2026.
Compare Defence Health with cover from every Australian health fund.
Defence Health against the industry.
Defence Health members had no gap on 89.4% of in-hospital medical services in the 2024-25 financial year, against 87.1% across the industry. State of the Health Funds Report 2024-25 · accessed 26 October 2026
Defence Health paid 43.3% of members' extras (general treatment) charges in the 2024-25 financial year, against 50.7% across the industry. State of the Health Funds Report 2024-25 · accessed 26 October 2026
Defence Health increased premiums by an average of 2.99% in 2026, against 4.41% across the industry. Government premium-increase figures · accessed 23 October 2026
3 / 5
2 Google reviews
Voluntary customer reviews · Defence Health in Melbourne
Snapshot: 26 October 2026. This is the Google listing for Defence Health in Melbourne, not a rating of Defence Health as a whole or a representative survey. This small sample may not reflect the experience of most members.
Complaint share is above market share
Share of all complaints, 2024-2510.3%
Market share, 30 June 20251.9%
0%15%
State of the Health Funds Report 2024-25 · checked 26 October 2026
Defence Health's share of complaints the Ombudsman received in 2024-25 is above its market share at 30 June 2025. Its share of complaints the Ombudsman investigated that year is 3.6%.
Latest quarter, January to March 2026. The Ombudsman referred 6 complaints about Defence Health Limited to it to resolve, 0.9% of those it referred about all insurers, and investigated none. Ombudsman Quarterly Update · checked 26 October 2026
App Store
1.5 / 5
69 App Store ratingsDefence Health Mobile Claiming app · Defence Health Limited
Snapshot: 22 October 2026. Defence Health Mobile Claiming is Defence Health's own app. This rates the app on the Australian App Store, not Defence Health's cover or claims. This small sample may not reflect the experience of most members.
Google Play
2.8 / 5
179 Google Play reviewsDefence Health Mobile Claiming app · Defence Health limited
Snapshot: 22 October 2026. Defence Health Mobile Claiming is Defence Health's own app. This rates the app on Google Play, not Defence Health's cover or claims.
Check the practical details.
Check your provider
Confirm that Defence Health recognises your provider. Ask for a treatment plan and item numbers so Defence Health can estimate your benefits and out-of-pocket costs.
Make or track a claim
Use Defence Health's health claims guidance and member login for receipts, claim tracking and remaining benefits.
Contact Defence Health
For enquiries, call 1800 335 425. Monday to Thursday 8:30am to 8pm and Friday 8:30am to 6pm (AEDT).Contact details checked 22 October 2026.Official contact details and messaging options
Before you choose Defence Health.
Can anyone join Defence Health?
No, Defence Health membership is restricted to current or former members of the ADF and the Defence community and their families. Check that you qualify before comparing its cover.
Source: Defence Health policy statement, checked 26 October 2026.
Who owns Defence Health?
Defence Health is owned by its members and operates as a not-for-profit fund. That does not make every policy the best value for your needs.
Source: Government insurer profile, checked 22 October 2026.
What is the cheapest Defence Health hospital policy?
Saver Hospital Bronze Plus is the cheapest Defence Health hospital policy for a single person in NSW with a $500 hospital excess, at $100.16 a month after the 24.118% government rebate for adults under 65 (prices effective 6 August 2026). This compares all 13 Defence Health hospital policies, not the whole market. Check what it excludes before choosing on price.
Source: How we compare prices, checked 26 October 2026.
What changes if I move from Advanced Hospital Bronze Plus to Core Hospital Silver Plus?
Defence Health Core Hospital Silver Plus adds full cover for insulin pumps, heart and vascular system and 2 more categories compared with Advanced Hospital Bronze Plus. For the Single / NSW / $500 excess example it costs $30.68 more a month, so check what each policy covers before you upgrade.
Source: Private Health Information Statements, checked 26 October 2026.
Sources for Defence Health.
Policy information retrieved 26 October 2026. Prices effective 6 August 2026.
Private Health Information Statements · Defence Health · checked 26 October 2026
State of the Health Funds Report 2024-25 · Defence Health · checked 26 October 2026
Government insurer profile · Defence Health · checked 22 October 2026
Government premium-increase figures · Defence Health · checked 23 October 2026
Government rebate rates and eligibility · Australian Government · checked 26 October 2026
Google listing for Defence Health in Melbourne · Defence Health · checked 26 October 2026
App Store listing for Defence Health Mobile Claiming · Defence Health Limited · checked 22 October 2026
Google Play listing for Defence Health Mobile Claiming · Defence Health limited · checked 22 October 2026
Official contact details · Defence Health · checked 22 October 2026
Defence Health policy statement · Defence Health · checked 26 October 2026
All policies by cover type
Hospital (15)
- Advanced Hospital Bronze Plus
- Advantage Hospital Silver Plus
- Connections Hospital Gold
- Core Hospital Silver Plus
- Essentials Hospital Basic Plus
- Everyday Hospital Bronze Plus
- Premier Hospital Gold
- Public Hospital Basic Plus
- Saver Hospital Bronze Plus
- Starter Hospital Basic Plus
- Top Hospital Gold
- Top Hospital Gold 800
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