A Certified Age of Entry (CAE), also referred to as "Lifetime Health Cover age", is established for every person who purchases hospital cover. CAE is based on the age at which you first took out hospital cover.

Lifetime Health Cover rules refer to the CAE to determine if you are required to pay an additional loading (also referred to as "penalty for late entry"). The threshold CAE is 30.

If you have a CAE greater than 31 you must pay a loading on the base rate premium equivalent to 2% for every year by which your CAE exceeds 30.

For a couple or family policy the average age of the two adults will be used to calculate the loading that will apply.

For people who purchase hospital cover for the first time before 23 April 2004, the CAE is their actual age at the time of taking out hospital cover.

For people who purchase hospital cover for the first time on or after 23 April 2004, the CAE is the person's actual age on the 1 July prior to purchasing hospital cover.

Lifetime Health Cover does not affect people who were born on or before 1 July 1934.