Healthcare in civilian life
When you leave the ADF, responsibility for your health care shifts to the civilian health system. Understanding what changes, and what support may be available, can help you plan with confidence and avoid gaps in care.
What do I need to know before I discharge?
As a full-time ADF member, your health care is managed through Joint Health Command. From a government perspective, this is considered similar to having comprehensive private hospital cover.
That level of support ends on your transition date. Preparing early can help you avoid gaps in care and make the move to the civilian health system smoother.
In the final 12 months of service, it’s important to:
- Attend Defence transition seminars or Transition Centre briefings
- Use the Defence Transition Handbook to understand what will change
- Finalise any outstanding medical and dental treatment
- Have even minor or long-standing issues assessed
- Ensure your medical records are complete and up to date
Once you transition, health care provided by Defence ends. You will no longer be able to access ADF health services for new or ongoing care.
If you need support from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) after your transition date, having a complete medical record at the time you leave the ADF can make the process smoother.
DVA assessments can take time, particularly where conditions need to be reviewed or accepted. Clear and complete medical records help the DVA understand your health history and assess eligibility for support.
After transition:
- Medicare becomes the foundation of your health care
- DVA may support accepted conditions, if you are eligible and you have been approved by DVA
- Private health insurance may help with some hospital and health care costs, depending on the cover you hold
- You can access care through civilian providers such as GPs, specialists and hospitals
We spoke to some Defence Health members who have been through the transition process after serving in the ADF for a long time. Learn more about what steps they took here
Before you discharge, it's important to:
- attend transition seminars and briefings
- complete any ongoing courses of medical and dental treatment (or understand what treatment will need to continue after your transition date)
- have all injuries, conditions and concerns assessed and recorded
- ensure your medical records are complete and up to date
- consider your private health insurance options so cover can continue after Defence health care ends. At Defence Health, waiting periods are waived when cover is taken out within 60 days of transition, subject to eligibility
Good preparation now can make accessing Medicare, DVA support and other services easier later.
Sign up for our monthly Transition Newsletter
Our monthly Transition Newsletter shares practical information about health care after service, aligned to where you are in the transition journey.
Next steps
- Download the transition checklist
- Register for Medicare
- Speak to a Defence Health transition specialist
For more information, book a 1:1 consult with us.
