Before you transition, you should consider your health insurance needs.
Medicare covers most Australian residents for health care but it does not cover everything.
You can choose to take out private health insurance to give yourself a wider range of options and more comprehensive cover.
There are two types of health insurance, hospital and general treatment (extras). You can buy them separately or most funds offer combined policies. The Government offers a range of health insurance initiatives.
The Private Health Insurance Rebate is a government subsidy for the cost of insurance. Lifetime Health Cover rules are designed to encourage people to purchase private health cover earlier and stay covered.
The Medicare Levy Surcharge is a tax that affects people earning above a certain threshold who do not hold private hospital cover.
As a permanent member of the ADF you are considered to have had private hospital cover while serving. If you do not take out hospital cover after you transition, you have up to 1094 days before you may attract a loading on your premiums under the Lifetime Health Cover rules.
If you never take out private hospital cover, you will not be affected.
If you start a private health insurance policy the day after your transition, no waiting periods for benefits should apply. Your Transition Coach can provide a health insurance letter confirming the provision of full medical and dental health care during your service. You can use this letter when you are exploring your post-transition health care options.
