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Reviewed by

Updated 23/05/2024
What changed?
Reviewed by Dr Jill Gamberg and tip added and referencing style updated. MLS thresholds also updated.
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Fact checked
Our aim is to help you make better informed decisions. That’s why iSelect’s content is produced in accordance with our fact-checking and editorial guidelines.
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Written by

Mel Basta

Updated 23/05/2024

What changed?

Reviewed by Dr Jill Gamberg and tip added and referencing style updated. MLS thresholds also updated.
Our aim is to help you make better informed decisions. That’s why iSelect’s content is produced in accordance with our fact-checking and editorial guidelines.

Find out more about how we make money.

View our Privacy Policy.

Check out our range of private health funds

ahmAustralian UnityBupaFrank Health InsuranceGMHBA Health InsuranceHCFLatrobe HealthnibPeoplecare Health InsuranceTUH Health Fund

iSelect does not compare all providers in the market or all policies offered by our partners in your area. Not all policies or special offers are available to all customers and some may only be available over the phone or on the website. Learn more.

Family Health Insurance

Imagine if the Brady Bunch needed eight different Health Insurance policies – it’d be a nightmare! Thankfully, you can purchase family Private Health Insurance and rest assured, because all your family members are protected under the one Family Policy.

What is a family when it comes to Health Insurance?

When it comes to health insurance, a family means parents (or single parent) and their dependent children. There is no limit as to how many kids you can have covered (although there are limits to how old the kids can be, which we’ll get into later). But keep in mind a family policy won’t cover grandparents, grandkids or other extended family members.

Helpful Tip:

Every family is unique—and so are their health needs! This means there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to insurance. Think about what you actually need: is it Hospital Cover that offers pregnancy and delivery care, or Extras Cover that helps pay for the kids’ glasses? Work out what’s important and what you’ll probably never use. This will help you chose a policy that covers you for the essentials without any unnecessary inclusions.

Dr. Jill Gamberg

GP, Coach and Lifestyle Medicine Coach

What types of Family Health Insurance policies are available?

Family Hospital Cover

Hospital Cover can help you pay for in-hospital treatments at a private or public hospital, including theatre fees for surgery and accommodation at a hospital.  

You also typically get to choose your preferred doctor and hospital. When deciding on a policy, it’s important to think about what type of procedures or services your family is likely to need in the future. 

Firstly, consider which product tier is suitable for your family: Gold, Silver, Bronze or Basic. This will determine what treatments you’re covered for and how much your premium will be.   

Generally, the higher the level of cover, the more expensive your Family Cover will be – for example, a Gold Family Policy will likely cost more than a Silver Family Policy.

Family Extras Cover

Extras Cover can provide you and your family with a level of cover for part (or all) of the costs of some allied health services that Medicare does not usually pay a rebate for, like dental checkups or glasses.  

When choosing an Extras Cover policy there are usually three levels to choose from: basic, medium, and comprehensive.  

Remember to check what’s included in your policy before signing up, as not all treatments you need will necessarily be included, and you also don’t want to pay more for services you are unlikely to use.  And keep in mind that some family Extras policies have family limits, which refers to the total or combined amount per service that can be claimed by all family members covered under your policy.

Family Combination Cover

Family extras cover and family hospital policies cover very different things, so a lot of people actually get both. This is known as Combined Hospital and Extras Cover.   

If you take out both hospital cover and extras cover for your family, you can usually combine them into a single policy with the same insurer. 

You should also be able to combine different levels of cover to suit your needs, for example you might want Gold hospital cover and a medium extras policy.

Since having kids, Private Health Insurance has really paid dividends for our family.  My eldest son has had two surgeries (most recently grommets, adenoids & tonsils) and both times we’ve been able to choose our preferred surgeon, skip public waiting lists and have the surgery within just a month or so of being referred. Your kids needing surgery is stressful enough without having to worry about lengthy public hospital waiting times.’ 

Laura Crowden, Managing Editor, iSelect and mum of two 

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Frequently Asked Questions

How can Health Insurance help my family?

What could Family Health Insurance cost?

What types of treatments not covered by Medicare could be covered by Family Health Insurance?

What are some benefits of Family Health Insurance?

How do I know what type of Family Health Insurance cover to get?

If I have Family Health Insurance, do I have to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge?

How long can my kids stay on my Family Health Insurance policy?

Can Health Insurance Cover vaccination costs?

Can families add their newborn to an existing Family Insurance policy?

Does family Health Insurance cost more for families with more children?

iSelect does not compare all health insurance providers or policies in the market. The availability of policies will change from time to time. Not all policies available from its providers are compared by iSelect and due to commercial arrangements, your stated needs and circumstances, not all policies compared by iSelect are available to all customers. Some policies and special offers are available only from iSelect’s contact centre or website. Click here to view iSelect’s range of providers