If you are a student dependant or a non-student dependant, you can usually stay on your parents’ private health insurance until the day before you turn 31.
What is a dependant?
A dependant is someone who is covered by private health insurance under a family or single parent family policy. You can remain on your parent's health insurance as a child dependant until the age of 21. After this, you could qualify as either a student or non-student dependant under your parent's policy until the age of 31.
To be a student dependant, you need to be between 21 and 30 (inclusive) and studying full-time at a recognised institution. You also need to be single (not married or in a defacto relationship) and financially dependent on your parents. Student dependants can usually stay on their parent's health insurance, if their parents agree, until they finish studying or turn 31, whichever happens first.
To be a non-student dependant, you need to be between 21 and 30 (inclusive) and not enrolled in full-time study. You also need to be single and not have your own health insurance policy. Your parents will also need to agree to keep you on their policy and pay an extra fee as part of their premium.
Every health insurance policy is different, so always remember to check the fine print with your parents' provider. To find out more about the maximum age of dependants on Qantas Health Insurance policies, visit our Frequently Asked Questions.
How to check if your parent's health insurance still covers you
You can confirm your dependant status on your parents' health insurance by:
Reviewing your parent's policy documents. These documents should outline the dependant information, including the names and ages of those covered.
Asking your parents to contact their health insurer directly. They can verify whether you're covered as a dependant and answer any questions you may have.
What to do if you can no longer be on your parent's health insurance
If you can no longer be covered as a dependant, you may want to transition to your own health insurance policy. Here’s how to go about it:
Research your options: Explore the different private health insurance providers and compare plans that suit your needs and budget. At Qantas Health Insurance we offer a range of Hospital and Extras cover options for singles, couples, families, and single parents. Plus, you’ll earn Qantas Points for taking out a policy as well as each time you pay your premium.1
Understand the benefits of switching to your own policy straight away: You can usually avoid waiting periods for certain services if you've already served them on your family's policy. This means you can claim benefits straight away, provided you switch to a comparable level of cover.2
Understand the Medicare Levy Surcharge: If your income exceeds a certain threshold and you don't have private health insurance, you may be liable for the Medicare Levy Surcharge, an additional tax on your income tax payable.3 To find out more about Medicare Levy Surcharge, click here.
If you are no longer covered as a dependant, do you need your own health insurance?
While having your own private health insurance is an added expense you will need to consider, it can give you peace of mind knowing you’ll have access to private healthcare and potential financial support for medical expenses if you need it. It can also help you avoid long wait times in the public healthcare system when seeking medical advice or treatment and covers a broader range of services than Medicare does including dental, optical, and more. To find out more information on the reasons why you should consider private health insurance, click here.
Why having health insurance before turning 31 is important
Having health insurance before you turn 31 offers several advantages:
Avoid the Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading: Taking out private health insurance before you turn 31 helps you avoid the Lifetime Health Cover loading, a surcharge applied to some hospital insurance premiums for people who take out private health insurance after this age.4
You may not have to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS): Taking out Private Hospital Cover may mean you won't have to worry about the Medicare Levy Surcharge come tax time.3 This surcharge is dependant on your income, so it’s important to do some research to see what tax bracket you sit in and if the surcharge is relevant to you.
You can take advantage of the age-based discount: With Qantas Health Insurance if you’re aged between 18-29, you could get up to 10% off your Hospital cover premium, and keep it until you’re 41.5
Need help deciding which cover is right for you?
If you would like help choosing the right cover to suit your needs and budget, our Qantas Health Insurance team is here to help. Call our friendly health insurance experts on 13 49 60, Monday to Friday, 9am - 7pm (AET), and they’ll be happy to chat you through your options. Alternatively, click here to get a quick Qantas health Insurance quote today.
Disclaimers
Qantas Health Insurance is issued by nib health funds limited ABN 83 000 124 381 (nib) a registered private health insurer, and is arranged by Qantas Airways Limited ABN 16 009 661 901 (Qantas), for which Qantas receives commission. The above general information is not personal advice and individuals should consider their personal circumstances and consult an expert before making any decisions.
1. Qantas Frequent Flyer (QFF) members who purchase a Qantas Health Insurance policy have the ability to earn Qantas Points on sign-up, for every dollar spent on premium, and for tracking activity in the Qantas Wellbeing App. Qantas Points are awarded to the primary policyholder based on the offer terms at the time of purchase, and are available only if the policy is bought through the Qantas website or call centre. Sign-on points are not available to customers who have held a Qantas Health Insurance policy in the previous 12 months; or who have held a health insurance policy with nib, AAMI Health Insurance, Apia Health Insurance, GU Health, Suncorp Health Insurance, ING Health Insurance, Priceline Health Insurance, Real Health Insurance or Seniors Health Insurance at any time in the previous 6 months.
2. Applies only where there is a break in cover of 59 days or less. Waiting periods will apply for services not currently covered, services with higher benefits or where waiting periods haven’t been fully served. Where the excess on the new product is lower than the excess on the previous cover, the excess on the previous cover will apply until the unexpired waiting period has been served. Any benefit limits already used with your current fund will apply to your Qantas Health Insurance policy.
3. Medicare Levy Surcharge (MLS) is a government initiative and may apply if you are a single and earn over $97,000 per year, or a couple and earn over $194,000, and don't have private hospital cover. The surcharge is payable for every day you don't have hospital cover within the financial year. The ATO uses a special definition of income (called income for MLS purposes) to determine whether you are liable to pay the MLS, and the rate of MLS you will have to pay. This income is different from your taxable income. This information is accurate as of July 2024. The ATO may change the income tiers applicable from time to time and you can find up to date information here.
4. Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) is a Government initiative aimed at encouraging people to take out private hospital cover earlier in life, and maintain it. If you don’t take out private hospital cover before 1 July after you turn 31, you’ll pay a 2% loading on top of your normal hospital premium for each year you don’t have hospital cover (up to a maximum of 70%). The loading applies for 10 years of continuous hospital cover. For every year you put off signing up for hospital cover, another 2% will be added. So if you wait until you’re 40, you’ll pay 20% more than someone on the same cover who joined when they were 31. For more information on LHC, visit https://insurance.qantas.com/health-insurance/articles/lifetime-health-cover-loading-need-to-know
5. Discount applied to eligible members between 18-29 (excludes Dependents on a policy). Discount calculated at 2% for each year a member is under 30, to a maximum of 10% for 18 to 25 year olds. Any discount the policyholder has with their current health fund will be recognised when they join Qantas Health Insurance. If you have a partner on the policy who is also eligible for the discount, the total discount will be the average of your individual age-based discounts. Discount applies until age 41, and reduces by 2% per year until reduced to zero. Find out more.
