How Can I Keep My Kids Covered?

How Do I Keep My Kids Covered?

As children grow into teenagers and young adults, many parents start asking the same question, how do I keep my kids covered under my health insurance?

The good news is that dependant cover continues well beyond childhood, helping your family maintain access to private health insurance while your children study, work or transition to living independently.

Who can be covered as a dependant?

A dependant is a child who is covered under a family or single parent health insurance policy.

At Phoenix Health, dependant children can remain covered under their parent’s policy until they turn 21 at no extra cost, provided they are not married or living in a de facto relationship.

This can provide valuable peace of mind by helping your children maintain access to private hospital and extras benefits while they’re establishing their independence.

What happens when my child turns 21?

Turning 21 does not always mean your child needs to take out their own policy.

If your child is aged between 21 and 25, they may be able to continue on your policy, under one of the following options:

Student Dependant

If your child is studying full-time or is participating in a full-time apprenticeship at a recognised organisation you can register them as a Student Dependant on your policy until they turn 25. This allows them to continue benefiting from private health insurance while they focus on their studies and prepare for their future.

To learn more about Student Dependants, including eligibility criteria and how to register your child, click here.

Adult Dependant

If your child is not studying or participating in an apprenticeship full-time, but remains financially dependent on you, you may be able to upgrade your cover to Extended Family cover, to keep them on your policy as an Adult Dependant until they turn 25. This can provide valuable support as they establish their independence and transition into the workforce.

To learn more about Adult Dependants click here; or get in touch with the Phoenix Health team to see if you can upgrade your policy to Extended Family and get a quote.

Need to update your dependant’s details?

Contact our team if your child is turning 21 or their circumstances have changed. We’ll help you understand the options available and make sure they remain appropriately covered.

When will my child need their own policy?

Eventually, there will come a time when your child is no longer eligible to remain on your policy.

This may happen if they:

• Are no longer studying or doing an apprenticeship full time;
• Get married or enter a de facto relationship.
• Are turning 25.

When this happens, taking out their own private health insurance policy can help ensure they maintain continuous cover and avoid serving waiting periods again for benefits they’ve already served.

Can my child receive any incentives when taking out their own cover?

Many health funds offer incentives to help adult dependants transition to their own policy.

If your dependant chooses to take out their own policy with Phoenix Health, we’ll help get them started with their second month of membership FREE, plus they can save up to 10% on Phoenix Health hospital covers with the Age Based Discount.

Before making the switch, it’s worth speaking with our team to understand which cover options best suit their needs and circumstances.

*One month (or 2 fortnights) free will be applied after one-month (or 2 fortnights) payment has been received.

Why keeping cover matters

Maintaining their health insurance cover can provide access to private healthcare services and help reduce unexpected healthcare costs.

For young adults, continuous cover can also mean:

• Retaining previously served waiting periods.
• Accessing benefits for eligible hospital and extras services.
• A smoother transition into managing their own healthcare.
• Peace of mind during study, work and life changes.