Health Insurance Membership Options

There are four categories of membership:

• Single Membership - provides cover only for the person named as the member on the application form (sometimes referred to as the contributor).
• Family Membership - provides cover for the member (the contributor), one other adult and one or more dependent children.
• Couple Membership - provides cover for the member (the contributor) and one other person who is not a dependent child of the member (contributor).
• Single Parent Family Membership - provides cover for the member (the contributor) and one or more dependent children.

Health funds are not required to offer all types of cover to all categories of membership.

Dependent Children

Dependent children are generally defined as the members (contributors) unmarried dependent children, step children and foster children who are under 18 years of age (some funds allow up to age 21). This age limit extends to 25 if the 'dependent child' is a full-time student, and is reliant on the member (contributor) for maintenance and support.

New-borns

If you have a Single membership and are expecting a baby, you may need to transfer to a Family Membership or a Single Parent Family membership. If you want the child to be insured from the time of birth, you may have to transfer to a family policy on confirmation of your pregnancy. Ask your health fund to explain its policy on new-borns.