The Morrison Government is supporting Australian families with private health insurance in the 2020-21 Federal Budget by making this important system simpler and more affordable.
From 1 April 2021, the Government will increase the maximum age of dependants under family private health insurance policies from 24 to 31 years. For dependants with a disability, there will be no age limit.
The Morrison Government is committed to supporting families and younger Australians throughout this difficult period and these measures will provide better value for money and peace of mind for parents and dependants alike.
Many younger Australians will now have continuity of private health insurance care until the age 31 when the Lifetime Health Cover requirements commences. This will encourage younger Australians to continue with their own private healthcare policy, increasing the attractiveness and affordability of private health care to young people.
Australians with a disability will also benefit from these changes and will gain the flexibility to remain on a family policy without age limits, allowing them to be covered under a family policy at no or low cost.
These measures come in addition to the Budget’s major investment in Australia’s healthcare system which includes:
• Record funding for health, with total spending of $93.8 billion in 2020-21, that has increased by 43% since 2014-15;
• 30 million Medicare subsided telehealth services since COVID began;
• $376 million for new and amended listings on the PBS, including lifesaving medicines to treat leukaemia, melanoma and Parkinson’s disease; and
• $5.7 billion funding for mental health support, frontline services and suicide prevention.
To find out more about how the Morrison Government is safeguarding the health and wellbeing of Australians during this difficult time, please visit: health.gov.au
13 October 2020