What is a dependant?

When you hear us refer to a "dependant", we mean a person who is dependant upon the primary member. This includes children, stepchildren, legally adopted children, or children to whom the primary member is the legal guardian. 

Dependants can stay on your family health insurance membership until their 21st birthday or, for full-time students at a recognised educational institution, until their 31st birthday. Dependants are not income-tested and do not have to live at home; however, if they're married or in a de-facto relationship, they are not able to stay on the family membership

To register a dependant as a student, please complete a Student Declaration Form and return it to hello@hif.com.au. Dependants without a student declaration will be automatically removed from a family membership on their 21st birthday.

Increase of age limit for Student Dependants

Why are we making this change? 

The Government increased the maximum age of dependants able to stay on a family policy until the age of 31 – the age at which Lifetime Health Cover commences - to make it easier for young people to maintain private health insurance. 

HIF chose to implement this optional change for health insurance providers because it is committed to providing choice and access to members.

When will the change happen? 

From 1 October 2022, student dependants aged over 25 years can be added onto their parents’ policy.

What date can a student dependant remain on their parents’ policy until? 

A student dependant can remain on their parents’ policy up to their 31st birthday. 

Can a student dependant be added back on a family policy now the dependants age has increase?

Yes, student dependants may re-join a family policy if eligibility criteria is met.

Will waiting periods apply if a student dependant is added back onto their parents’ policy? 

Yes, normal waiting periods apply.

Has the criteria changed for student dependants? 

Apart from an increase to the maximum age limit (25 to 31) all other eligibility criteria remains the same.