$2,000.00 per adult Dambimangari member per financial year is available to be used for out-of-pocket essential health related expenses. Dambimangari adult parents with children may only access a cumulative amount of $2,000.00 for themselves and their children.
No extra funds are available once a member has exhausted their allocation.
The application form needs to be completed in full and sent to the DAC office. Evidence of the need for health assistance, for example, an invoice or confirmation of an appointment must accompany the application.
Assistance for travel and accommodation costs are available under this policy. Costs must relate to medical goods or services for the member themselves or for travel associated with a specialist appointment. Similarly, these costs can be covered in the instance that a member is required to provide emotional support (as a carer) to an immediate family member admitted to hospital. Immediate family is defined as:
- Parents;
- Grandparents;
- Siblings;
- Children;
- Grandchildren; and
- Spouses.
Payment direct to supplier can be provided for:
- Out-of-pocket cost of the appointment itself (cost less Medicare and any private health care); and
- Travel costs of:
- fuel or return flights from place of residence to the nearest town/ city to attend the appointment
- one night’s accommodation (day of the appointment)
- If mileage is required, the equivalent to the cheapest flight of the day or application of the ATO mileage rate to calculate the cost. The trust will pay the cheaper of these two options.
If travel assistance involves a member providing support to an immediate family member in hospital, the member where available must first utilise PATs (Patient Assistance Scheme) for travel in the first instance.
If PATs cannot assist, one adult person from within the immediate family group may apply for assistance to travel in the role of a carer in times of emergency. If that adult has care of other children and no one else is available to care for these children, then the additional children may also accompany the adult.
- A letter of support needs to be obtained by the applicant from the hospital or health professional supporting the application for assistance on the grounds that it will be beneficial for the ill person. These support letters need to detail why the support is required and the urgency of this support. These letters will be reviewed by the trust or DAC to approve assistance in accordance with the this policy.
- A one-off allowance of $150.00 can be paid where the member needs to “live away from home” and is being assisted by the trust.
- In extreme circumstances, if the prognosis is dire, additional persons may be assisted at the discretion of the DAC CEO.