Dependants
Discover how your dependants can stay protected by health insurance.
From 1 July 2023, we increased the maximum age for student dependants from 25 to 31. This means your dependants can stay covered by health insurance for longer while they complete their studies.
What is a dependant?
A child dependant is someone who is under 21 years of age and is not married or in a de facto relationship and is the natural, adopted or foster dependant of the policy holder. There are varying premiums for dependants depending on the cover you have. This person is covered under the family’s health cover at no extra cost.
A student dependant is a full-time student, single (not married or in a de facto relationship), aged between 21 and 30 (inclusive). This person is covered under the family’s health cover at no extra cost.
A non-student dependant is someone aged between 21 and 30 (inclusive), single (not married or in a de facto relationship) and is not studying full-time. They can be added to your family’s cover for an additional fee determined by us.
What happens when a dependant turns 31?
Your children can stay on your family health insurance policy until the day before they turn 31, whether they’re student or non-student dependants.
If they’re student dependants, they can remain covered at no extra cost as long as they are between 21 and 30 years old, studying full-time, and not married or in a de facto relationship.
Non-student dependants can also stay on the policy for an additional fee if they are between 21 and 30 years old, not studying full-time, and not married or in a de facto relationship.
Once a dependant turns 31, they should consider getting their own private health insurance to avoid paying Lifetime Health Cover, opens in a new tab (LHC) charges. It's important to ensure there is no gap between leaving their family’s policy and taking out their own cover to avoid serving waiting periods again.