Keeping kids covered
Doctors’ Health Fund has adopted the Australian Government’s reforms to increase the age dependants can stay covered by their parent’s health insurance policy and to provide cover for dependants with disability regardless of their age. To add an eligible dependant to your policy, call our Member Services Team on 1800 226 126.
What are my children covered for?
Your children are covered for the same cover as you are. Family and single parent policies provide the same hospital and extras cover for each family member listed on your policy. For extras policies, annual benefit limits are per person, per calendar year except where stated otherwise. Your children can only be included in your cover if they are classified as dependants.
Cover for children under the age of 21
Your child, stepchild or foster child who is under the age of 21 and does not have a partner is classed as a dependant. Any number of dependants (under 21) can be included on a family or single parent policy with no extra premium. If you hold a couple or single policy and want to add a dependant, you will need to upgrade to a family or single parent policy.
Cover for dependants over the age of 21
When your child turns 21, they can remain on your family or single parent membership as a dependant until they turn 32 if they earn less than the current base tier of the private health insurance income thresholds annually and aren’t married or don’t have a de facto partner. If they meet these criteria, they will be classed as either a student dependant or non-student dependant.
- A student dependant is your child, stepchild or foster child aged 21 to 31 (inclusive) who is a full-time student at a school, college or university and meets the income and relationship criteria. They can remain on your policy with no extra premium. You will be asked to confirm their student dependant status each year.
- A non-student dependant is your child, stepchild or foster child aged 21 to 31 (inclusive) who is not enrolled full-time at a school, college or university and meets the income and relationship criteria. They can remain on your policy if you upgrade to extended family cover or extended single parent cover, which have an additional premium.
Cover for dependants with disability
A dependant with disability can remain covered on a family or single parent policy regardless of their age. A dependant with disability is your child, stepchild or foster child aged 21 or older who earns less than the current base tier of the private health insurance income thresholds annually and participates in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). They can be married or have a de facto partner. Your dependant with a disability can stay on your policy for an additional premium.
What happens when a child is no longer a dependant?
A child is no longer a dependant when they turn 32, earn more than the current base tier of the private health insurance income thresholds annually or have a partner. A child is no longer a dependant with disability if they earn more than the current base tier of the private health insurance income thresholds annually or stop participating in the NDIS.
A child who is no longer a dependant is eligible to take out their own cover with Doctors’ Health Fund. They cannot remain on your family or single parent policy. They must take out their own cover within 60 days of their cover on your policy ending, to avoid re-serving waiting periods. If they are aged under 30 they will be eligible for an age-based discount of 2 to 10% on their premium.
Our Smart Starter Bronze Plus hospital cover and Starter Extras are great options for young singles and couples.
Frequently asked questions
If you have an excess for your policy, it applies to all family members listed on your policy regardless of age. There is a person maximum and, for family and single parent policies, a policy maximum.
For example, if you have chosen a $750 excess for your family policy, your excess in each calendar year is capped at $750 per person and $1,500 for the policy. If 3 family members covered by your policy are hospitalised in the same calendar year, the maximum excess you will pay is $1,500.
Yes. You can order a card for them through Online Member Services.
Not separately from other family members on your policy. The same level of cover applies to all family members listed on your policy.
Call us on 1800 226 126 if you would like to add a child to your policy. You will need to upgrade to one of our family or single parent policies if you are not already on that type of cover.
For a newborn, make sure you contact us within 60 days from their birth. This will ensure your child doesn’t need to serve any waiting periods. There may be tax implications if your child isn't added to the policy from their date of birth.
No, a dependant on their parent’s policy cannot have an age-based discount. It is only available to people who have their own private health insurance.
If your child has an age-based discount and returns to your policy as a dependant, their age-based discount is forfeited. If they get their own policy when they are aged 30 or over, their age-based discount is not reinstated.