​Keep everyone covered​

We want to keep the whole family covered for longer.

• Children are covered until they turn 21 – no questions asked.
• Full-time students who are not married or living with a partner can remain on a family membership – until they turn 31 – at no additional cost.
• Single children – aged 21 to 30 – who are not studying, not married or living with a partner can be covered on a combined hospital and extras Family+ membership for a slightly higher premium.

The Medicare Levy Surcharge

The Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) is an additional tax levied on higher income earners who do not have private hospital cover. 

While government legislation allows us to cover adult dependants until age 31, it does not exempt them from the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS). Students are exempt until they turn 25. But there is no provision for non-students.

If children covered by a Family+ policy earn more than the MLS threshold, they should consider taking out their own hospital cover to avoid paying extra tax.​​

What is a Family+ membership?

Family+ is an eligible combined hospital and extras membership that covers you and all the single​​ children in your family who are not studying. It’s an easy and cost-effective way to keep everyone covered right through their 20s.

A slightly higher premium is charged to extend your policy to a Family+ membership.

When your children turn 31 (or marry/live with a partner) they will need to take out their own cover.

When your child turns 31​​

Age 31 is the time for your children to get their own hospital cover. There are some good reasons for them to do this quickly.

• Avoid a Lifetime Health Cover loading. If they take out their own hospital cover later than 1 July following their 31^st birthday, a loading of 2% could be added to the premium for each year they delay. And once a loading applies, it will remain for 10 years.
• Waiting periods may apply if their health insurance lapses for longer than 60 days.
• Don’t tempt fate – hospital cover means timely treatment when it’s needed. Without their own cover, they will have to join the public hospital waiting list for anything other than an emergency.
• Avoid paying extra tax. The Medicare Levy Surcharge hits higher income earners who do not have their own private hospital cover.

Please contact us when your youngest child turns 31 and we’ll update your membership to a couples or singles premium.