Youth discount for 18- to 29-year-olds

As part of the Australian Government’s private health insurance reforms, health funds can now offer a discount of up to 10% to members aged 18 to 29. The goal is to make private health insurance more affordable for young Australians and give them better access to private hospital services. 

While offering this discount is voluntary, not all health funds have stepped up. But at Doctors’ Health Fund, we’ve taken it to the next level, offering this discount on all our hospital covers. This is just one more way we live by our member-before-profit mantra -we’re committed to making health insurance more accessible for those who need it most. 

 How does it work?

The discount ranges between 2% and 10% per annum, depending on the age of the person when they join Doctors’ Health Fund. This is outlined in the table below. 

If you were already a member of Doctors’ Health Fund, your discount is determined by the age you were on 1 April 2019. 

For new members, it’s your age when you take out cover for the first time after 1 April 2019. 

For couples and family policies, the discount will apply individually to the two adults on the policy. 

Members will retain their discount until they turn 41. After this, the discount reduces at a rate of 2% per annum until they turn 45. 

Please remember, the discount applies to hospital cover only, not extras, and is separate to any other discounts or rebates.

Here are some examples of how the discount is applied in different circumstances:

• Single cover
  Andy just turned 21 and is taking out Private Health Insurance Hospital cover for the first time. Andy is entitled to a 10% discount on his hospital premium per year, and he continues to receive the full discount until he turns 41.
  
• Couple / family cover
  Yalda and Khalid purchased a couples hospital policy after 1 April 2019. The youth discount is averaged based on both of their ages of 28 (4%) and 27 (6%). They are entitled to a 5%* discount on their hospital premium per annum. *[Avg = 4% + 6% ÷ 2].
  
• Age on 1 April 2019
  Steph has had private health insurance hospital cover since she was 22 years old. She is 27 when the youth discount comes into effect on 1 April 2019. Steph's discount is based on her age on 1 April 2019, she is entitled to a 6% discount. 
  
• Switching from another fund
  Cory switched to Doctors’ Health Fund from a health fund that didn’t offer the youth discount. Because of this, his discount is determined by his age when joining Doctors’ Health Fund. If his previous fund had offered the youth discount it would have carried over when he switched.

Contact our friendly and knowledgeable member services team to find out what discount you’re eligible for by emailing join@doctorshealthfund.com.au or calling 1800 226 126.