As your family evolves, your health insurance needs to keep pace.
Find out how to get the right cover for your family and life.
Find the right fit for your family
As you move through different stages of family life, your cover should adapt to your needs.
Key points
- Pregnancy, birth and IVF need Gold hospital cover, with a 12-month waiting period.
- Switching to couples cover may simplify managing your policy.
- Add a baby to a policy within 90 days to avoid waiting periods.
- Your children only need to be covered by one parent’s policy.
- Eligible children can stay on some Bupa family policies until their 32nd birthday.
What stage of family life are you in?
Explore health insurance information and options as your family grows or changes.
Adding a child
Adding a new baby
If your policy doesn't cover children yet, add your baby within 90 days of birth to avoid waiting periods. If your policy already covers children, you have 12 months to add them before waiting periods apply.
Adding a child or dependant
You can add a child or dependant to your family or single parent policy. On some Bupa family policies, eligible children can stay covered until their 32nd birthday.
The easiest way to add a child to your policy is to log in to myBupa, Bupa’s secure member portal or call 134 135.
Choosing couples cover
If you're married or in a de facto relationship, you can change from singles to couples cover.
Couples cover isn't necessarily cheaper than having 2 singles policies, but it can make managing your health insurance easier. You'll have one policy and premium to manage, plus combined tax information for you and your partner.
- Compare before you switch
Check the cover level each of you needs, and whether you have employer-subsidised benefits. If your needs or benefits differ, separate policies may suit you better. - Switch once you're sure it fits
Confirm how changing your policy may affect your benefits or waiting periods. - Revisit as life changes
Review your cover as your health needs, relationship or family circumstances change.
Planning a family
If you're planning to have a baby, it's also important to plan your health cover.
Pregnancy, birth and assisted reproductive services such as IVF are included on Gold Hospital cover. A 12-month waiting period is standard.
- 12+ months before birth: Check your cover
Make sure your policy includes pregnancy and birth, and that you've served the 12-month waiting period. If you're considering changing your level of cover, check waiting periods first. - 9 months before birth: Plan your private hospital care
Start looking at hospitals and specialists. Ask if they work with Bupa and what you might be out of pocket, most doctors will tell you upfront if they'll charge above the standard rate. - 3 months before birth: Get ready for hospital
Confirm what you need to do to be admitted, how any excess works, and make sure your policy details are up to date.
Make the most of your extras
Things like physio, massage or midwife visits might be covered under extras. Check what's included, plus any waiting periods or yearly limits, so you don't miss out.
Single parent cover options
If you’re a single parent, you may be able to choose family cover or singles cover with children.
If you share care
Only one parent needs to include the children on their policy. If you share care, decide which parent will cover the children, then choose the policy that best suits your family's needs.
Choosing your cover
Think about the cover that's right for your family and the health services you're most likely to use.
As circumstances change
Review your cover if your care arrangements or family needs change.
Want to browse all our cover options? Explore Hospital cover, Extras cover, Hospital and extras combined, or Ambulance cover.
Awarded Outstanding Value Health Insurance 5 years running
Year after year, we’ve been recognised by Canstar for the value of our cover. We’re proud of that, and even prouder of what it means for our members.
Reasons to choose Bupa
For more than 75 years, Bupa has been working hard to help people take care of their health and wellbeing. We’ve learned what matters most.
No excess for kids
Feel confident you won’t get caught out if your kids end up in hospital.1
Extended age of dependants
Eligible dependants can now stay on your cover until their 32nd birthday.
100% back on general fillings2
Claim 100% back on general dental fillings at Members First Ultimate dental practitioners (up to yearly limits).
Flexible extras cover
Stay on budget by paying for just the extras that you want most with FLEXtras.3
Use our provider network
You could pay less for selected services that are included in your cover with our Members First providers.4
Large hospital network
Have peace of mind that you can access one of Australia’s largest hospital networks.
Want 8 weeks free plus a $400 Flight Centre Gift Card?*
Join & stay on eligible combined hospital and extras cover and get up to 8 weeks free, plus up to $400 in a Flight Centre Gift Card.* Offer ends 18 November 2026.
Use promo code 8WEEKSFREEFC
*T&Cs and exclusions apply. New direct Bupa joins only. 8 weeks free applied over 2 years (3 years for annual payers). Flight Centre gift card value varies according to policy scale selected.
Switching is easier than you think
Find the right cover for you
Compare and choose the cover that suits you. If you need help, select the chat button or call us on 134 135.
Let us do the paperwork
When you join, we’ll ask about your previous health cover. We’ll let your old health insurer know you're switching, and cancel your old cover.
Skip the waiting periodsœ
If you’ve already served waiting periods, you won’t need to serve them again if you’re switching to the same or lower level of cover.œ
Frequently asked questions
You can change your cover after becoming pregnant, but pregnancy and birth services generally have an industry-standard 12‑month waiting period. This means taking out or upgrading cover during pregnancy is unlikely to provide cover for that pregnancy or birth.
Explore pregnancy cover options.
Congratulations! If your policy already covers children, you can add your baby within 12 months of their birth and they won't need to serve any waiting periods. If your policy doesn't currently cover children, you'll generally need to add your baby within 90 days of birth to avoid waiting periods.
You can add a person to your policy through Bupa’s secure member portal myBupa, by calling 134 135 (within Australia) or by visiting a Bupa store.
Yes. Children don't need to be covered by both parents' policies. You can choose to add them to one parent's policy while the other parent keeps separate cover.
This can work well if parents need different levels of cover, have separate policies through work, are separated, or share care arrangements. It can also be an option for blended families where family members have different health insurance needs.
The right approach will depend on your family's circumstances. If you're unsure which arrangement is right for you, Bupa can help explain your options.
Explore your family health insurance options.
Bupa Family Plus may allow eligible children to stay on their parent's policy until their 32nd birthday, instead of taking out their own health insurance straight away.
If your child is eligible, you can pay an additional premium to keep them on your membership. They'll have the same level of cover as the policy they're included on, and any applicable waiting periods will still apply.
Eligibility rules apply, including age and other requirements.
Explore your options for dependents on your policy.
No. Couples cover is available to people who are married or in a de facto relationship.
Explore couples health insurance options.
Not necessarily. Some couples choose to move onto one policy before starting a family because it can make their health insurance easier to manage. You'll have one policy, one premium and one set of policy details to keep track of.
Before making any changes, compare the cover each person needs. If one person wants pregnancy and birth cover, has different healthcare needs, or receives health insurance benefits through their employer, separate policies may still be the better option.
If you're planning a pregnancy, check whether your cover includes pregnancy and birth services and make sure any waiting periods have been served before you need them. Pregnancy and birth services generally have a 12‑month waiting period, so planning ahead is important.
Find out more about couples health insurance.
On some Bupa family policies, eligible children can stay covered until their 32nd birthday. After that, they'll generally need their own policy to remain covered. In some circumstances, waiting periods already served may be recognised when moving from a family policy to an individual policy.
Explore your options when managing a dependent’s membership.
Whether you're adding a partner, welcoming a baby, separating, or updating who's covered on your policy, you can manage many membership changes through Bupa's secure member portal, myBupa. If you need help, call Bupa on 134 135 and we'll talk you through your options and any changes you may need to make to your cover.
1 You won’t pay an excess for children (included on your membership) up to the age of 32 if they need to go to hospital. Available on selected hospital covers.
2Â Select direct restoration and general fillings only. Benefit claiming restrictions, waiting periods, yearly limits, fund and policy rules apply. Available on all Extras products with general dental at Members First Ultimate providers. Not available in all areas.
3Â Choose either four or six extras services. The 50% or 60% claim back is available at any Bupa recognised provider and is subject to yearly limits.
4Â Depending on your level of cover, for most services at our Members First extras providers covering dental, physiotherapy, chiropractic and podiatry consultations. Bupa has Members First providers for these services. Not available in all areas. Yearly limits, benefit claiming restrictions, waiting periods, fund and policy rules apply.
Å“ When switching to Bupa on an equivalent or lower level of cover within 60 days of cover end date with old health fund, provided you already served your waiting period and pending receipt of your clearance certificate. We will apply portability once we receive it.