Family Health Insurance

Q: Are there any additional options for families who worry about unexpected emergencies?

With our Private Emergency Department Benefit > available on Silver Plus Support and above Hospital covers, we’ll pay towards the admission fee charged for attending an Emergency Department at a Private Hospital. The benefit has an annual limit, per membership of $300, $400 or $500 depending on the cover. If you attend a Private Emergency Department, other fees may apply.

Q: Can I add a dependant to my existing cover?

If you're on a single membership: You’ll need to change to a family or single parent family membership to add a dependant. If you do this within two months from the date of their birth or inclusion in your family unit (e.g. through marriage, adoption or fostering) they won't have to serve any waiting periods the policy holder has already served. Where a child is added outside two months, they’ll have to serve all waiting periods applicable to the cover. If you're on a couple or family membership: If your policy is available as a Family membership, you can add a dependant to your membership within 12 months of their birth or inclusion into the family unit and they generally won't need to serve any waiting periods the policy holder already served on the membership. This change can be backdated or commence from the date of application or any future date you choose. Where a child is added outside of 12 months, they will be subject to the regular waiting periods. Adding a dependant child may affect the premiums you’ll need to pay. Contact us if you need support on how to add your baby to your policy before giving birth.

Q: Can I add my partner to my existing cover?

Yes, but you’ll need to change to a couple or family membership. There will likely be higher premiums and waiting periods may apply to your partner. To add your partner to your membership, contact us .

Q: Will my dependants affect the cost of my health insurance?

Including dependants on your policy may impact the cost of your premium. The number of adults and the student status of adult dependants (aged over 21) affects premiums, rather than the number of people. It’s best to contact us so we can help you select a cover that suits your health needs and budget.

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Why consider Medibank family health cover?

100% back on kids extras

Looking after your family can be costly, so we provide 100% back on extras for kids on Growing Family Extras covers at Members’ Choice providers, up to annual limits.¹

No hospital excess for kids

With Medibank you'll have one less worry, with no hospital excess for kids on all of our family covers.^Ω

24/7 Medibank Nurse and Mental Health Support

Being a parent is a 24/7 job. That's why members with health insurance can speak to a registered nurse or mental health professional at no extra cost.^¥¥ Chat over the phone or online any time of the day or night.

Learn more about how Medibank compares to other funds

Frequently asked questions

Are there any additional options for families who worry about unexpected emergencies?

What's the difference between Bronze, Silver, and Gold hospital cover?

Bronze, Silver, and Gold represent different product tiers, each with varying levels of coverage.

Bronze hospital cover

Looking for outstanding value cover? Bronze Plus Value and Bronze Plus Support could be cost-effective options that include a range of services to help you feel protected when it comes to your health.

Silver hospital cover

Entry to Silver includes additional Hospital services such as heart & vascular, lung & chest and more. Get added support from a Private Emergency Department Benefit^> available on Silver Plus Support and Silver Plus Secure Hospital covers.

Gold hospital cover

If you're thinking about growing your family, our top-level Hospital cover includes pregnancy and birth services as well as assisted reproductive services.

Still have questions? Learn more about private health insurance tiers.

How long can kids stay on a family cover?

We've increased the maximum age for Dependants from 24 to 30. This means eligible Dependants could stay on your eligible residential family policy until they turn 31, provided they are not married or living in a de facto relationship. For the first Dependant aged 21 and over there is an additional loading fee, unless they are studying full time at an Australian Educational Institution.²

If your Dependant is between the ages of 18-29, don't forget to consider the ongoing benefits of the Young Adult Discount which is available to them when they take out their own eligible Hospital cover.³

Every family is different. Get in touch to see what is best for you and your Dependants.

Can I add a dependant to my existing cover?

If you're on a single membership:

You’ll need to change to a family or single parent family membership to add a dependant. If you do this within two months from the date of their birth or inclusion in your family unit (e.g. through marriage, adoption or fostering) they won't have to serve any waiting periods the policy holder has already served. Where a child is added outside two months, they’ll have to serve all waiting periods applicable to the cover.

If you're on a couple or family membership:

If your policy is available as a Family membership, you can add a dependant to your membership within 12 months of their birth or inclusion into the family unit and they generally won't need to serve any waiting periods the policy holder already served on the membership. This change can be backdated or commence from the date of application or any future date you choose. Where a child is added outside of 12 months, they will be subject to the regular waiting periods.

Adding a dependant child may affect the premiums you’ll need to pay. Contact us if you need support on how to add your baby to your policy before giving birth.

Can I add my partner to my existing cover?

Is family health insurance cheaper than individual cover per person?

The number of adults and status of the adult dependants on a policy impacts your premiums. Since family memberships include the policy holder, their partner and any of their child and/or student dependants this could be better value than taking out a single policy for everyone individually.

However, there are other factors that affect your premium so it’s best to contact us so we can help you select a cover that suits your health needs and budget.

Will my dependants affect the cost of my health insurance?

Does having children affect the Medicare Levy Surcharge?

To encourage Australians to take out private Hospital cover and relieve stress on the public system, the government applies an additional levy for those without Hospital cover, depending on your annual income. This is known as the Medicare Levy Surcharge. You could save money on tax with Hospital cover if you earn more than $97k as a single or $194k as a family, couple or single parent. You could be paying an additional tax surcharge of 1% (up to 1.5%) of your income, if you or any of your dependants don’t hold an appropriate level of Hospital cover for the full financial year.⁴

The family income threshold for single parents, couples and families is increased by $1,500 for each MLS dependant child after the first child. However, if you and all your dependants⁴ take out Hospital cover and hold it for the full tax year, you may not have to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge. Any level of Hospital cover will do, so long as the excess is not greater than $750 for singles or $1,500 for couples or families.⁵

Useful information

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Switching health insurance

Switching to Medibank is easy, at any time.

Find out more

How to choose the best health insurance for a family

Looking for the best health insurance for your family? Explore cover options, benefits, and tips to find the right health plan for your loved ones.

Hospital and extras cover explained

Our handy guide to how hospital and extras cover works.

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Things you should know

Waiting periods and annual limits may apply.

‡ We pay limited benefits for Restricted services. This means that if you choose to be treated in a private hospital the benefits we pay will not cover all hospital costs and are likely to result in significant out-of-pocket expenses. For Restricted services in a Public hospital we will pay minimum shared room benefits.

⁼ Eligible members on Medibank extras (excluding Healthy Living Extras and Gold Ultra Health) can claim a maximum of two 100% back dental check-ups per member, per year at a Members’ Choice Advantage provider (including bitewing x-rays where clinically required). For members on eligible extras, the first two check-ups do not count towards your annual limit. Members with Healthy Living Extras can get 100% back on one dental check-up each year at a Members’ Choice Advantage provider (including up to two bitewing x-rays, where clinically required) or at a Members’ Choice provider (excluding x-rays). Members with Gold Ultra Health can get 100% back on up to three dental check-ups at a Members’ Choice or Members’ Choice Advantage provider. Members’ Choice and Members’ Choice Advantage providers are not available in all areas. Two month waiting period applies. Some products may have other dental benefits, check your cover summary for details.

^# Medibank has Members' Choice providers for these services. Not available in all areas.

^~ Some items and services may require a Referral Letter and may have a benefit replacement period. Please see the Cover Summary or Member Guide for more information.

⁺ For Accidents that occur in Australia after your cover starts. Must seek medical treatment within 7 days, and receive hospital treatment within 12 months of the Accident occurring. Excludes Private Emergency Department Benefit, hospital bonus, claims covered by third parties and our Private Room Promise. Out-of-pocket costs may apply. For Gold hospital covers, Accident Cover Boost is not required because all clinical categories are Included, regardless of whether or not the treatment is required as a result of an Accident.

^¶ Counsellors must be registered with Australian Counselling Association, Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia, Australian Traditional Medicine Society. Mental Health Social Workers must hold a mental health accreditation by the Australian Association of Social Workers. Medibank will pay benefits towards pharmacogenetic tests for all conditions. Benefits will only be paid towards pharmacogenetic tests administered in-person, or for approved home kits where supporting documentation from a medical practitioner outlining the clinical purpose is supplied.

^Ω Other out–of–pocket expenses may apply.

^¥¥ Some referred services may involve out of pocket costs and waiting periods may apply.

^ Waiting periods apply. For ambulance attendance or transportation to a hospital where immediate professional attention is required and your medical condition is such that you couldn't be transported any other way. TAS and QLD have state schemes to cover ambulance services for residents of those states.

^> We'll pay a benefit up to an annual limit per membership towards any admission fee ("facility fee") charged by the Private Hospital for patients attending a Private Accident and Emergency Department. The fee amount varies by Private Hospital and does not include medical and other charges (such as charges for diagnostic imaging or pathology), so out of pocket expenses may still apply. Only available at Private Hospitals with an Accident and Emergency Department. Members will need to submit a claim to receive the benefit and may have to pay upfront. Two month waiting period applies.

¹ Waiting periods apply, including 12 months for some dental services. For Child Dependants (up to 21 years) and eligible Student Dependants (up to 31 years). Members’ Choice providers not available in all areas.

² Eligibility requirements apply for Dependants. Only available on eligible policies. Additional costs for the first Adult Dependant. Eligible Student Dependants may be added to most Overseas Visitors Health Cover and all Overseas Workers Health Cover products. Adult Dependants cannot be added to any overseas health covers.

³ To be eligible for the Young Adult Discount, a Young Adult must have their own residential hospital policy or a residential hospital policy with their partner. They cannot be a dependent on their parents' policy. If they are on their own couple or family policy, the discount is calculated by taking an average of the discount applied to the adults on the hospital cover. So, if one person has a 10% discount and their partner has no discount, or 0%, the discount applied is 5% overall.

⁴ 'Income’ and 'dependants' have a specific meaning for Medicare Levy Surcharge purpose. Learn more.

⁵ Australian Taxation Office – Australian Government; Appropriate level of patient hospital cover; retrieved October 2024.

^€ For new members on new memberships who join and start eligible combined Bronze hospital and extras cover or above and who have not held Medibank health cover in previous 60 days (unless they are dependents coming off their parent’s cover). Must quote promo code ‘6WEEKSPLUS’ and set up direct debit when joining. Excludes Hospital only cover, Extras only cover, Basic covers, Corporate covers, Accident Cover, Ambulance Cover, Overseas Visitors Cover (OVC), Overseas Students Health Cover (OSHC), Overseas Workers Health cover, Travel Insurance, Pet Insurance, Funeral Insurance, Life Insurance & Income Protection, ahm covers and all corporate covers. Not available with any other offer. Medibank may end this offer or amend these offer terms and conditions at any time without notice. Medibank employees are not eligible for this offer.

6 weeks free terms: Must maintain direct debit and hold eligible cover for 42 consecutive days from the policy start date to get next 6 weeks free. The 6 weeks free will not be issued if you change to an ineligible cover, terminate your cover or suspend your cover during this period.

2&6 month waits waived on extras terms: 2&6 month waiting periods on extras waived. Other waiting periods apply (including 12 months on some dental services). If you're switching from another fund and you’ve used any of your current limits (at that fund), that will count towards your annual limits with us. If you've reached your limits at your previous fund you may not be able to claim straight away on extras.

Live Better points terms: Must maintain direct debit and hold eligible product for 42 consecutive days from the policy start date to receive Live Better points. The points will not be issued if you change to an ineligible cover, terminate your cover or suspend your cover during this period. Policyholder will require access to a smartphone and will need to download the My Medibank App. Policyholder will need to have registered a My Medibank account, sign up to Live Better via the My Medibank App and track any Live Better activity within 42 consecutive days from the policy start date. Policyholder must also maintain direct debit and continue to hold an eligible product for 42 consecutive days from the policy start date to receive the Live Better Points. Must be 18 years or over and have a valid Australian residential address to register for Medibank Live Better. Live Better points could take up to 10 weeks from the policy start date to be loaded to the policyholder’s Live Better account. Singles and single parents will receive 25,000 Live Better points, and families and couples will receive 50,000 Live Better points.

Live Better rewards terms: Must be a Medibank member with eligible hospital cover, extras cover, or hospital and extras cover, be up-to-date with premium payments and have signed up to Medibank Live Better via the ‘My Medibank’ app to redeem rewards. Additional terms and conditions may apply to the redemption of a reward depending on the type of reward chosen. Read full Medibank Live Better terms here: https://www.medibank.com.au/livebetter/rewards/terms/

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