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May 5, 2026
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This month we are focusing on managing the household budget. One item of expenditure that has escalated in recent years and is unavoidable are family healthcare costs. You may not have heard of the ADF Family Health Program which can help a bit. If so, this article will give you a brief outline as well as links to authoritative sources of further information.
What is the ADF Family Health Program?
We’re glad you asked. The program helps eligible ADF members manage the cost of a range of medical services for their family by providing unlimited reimbursement of out-of-pocket costs for GP appointments, as well as up to $800 per financial year for each registered dependant. The $800 is combined as a family amount and is automatically transferred between family members. For example, if one family member had greater medical needs in a given year, they could use the full family benefit.
The Program is available to Permanent ADF members and Reservists on continuous full-time service.
Where can I find out more and register?
Please visit the dedicated ADF Family Program website for authoritative information about the program, the process for registering dependants and the services which can be claimed. Of note, the program is not designed to replace private health insurance but may be used in conjunction with it to reduce any out of pocket expenses.
The program is just one small part of the health and wellbeing services and resources available to ADF members and their families. We recommend that members and families familiarise themselves with what is available so that they can make best use of them.
Our website page on private health insurance provides an introduction and links to further sources of information. Finally, no article of this nature would be complete without a reference to the pay and conditions manual, which goes by the adorable acronym PACMAN.
