Couples health insurance

You have the option to choose either a joint couples policy, which covers both of you, or separate individual policies. The decision depends on what suits your needs best. Explore if a couples health insurance policy is the right choice for you and your partner.

No, you don't need to be married to get couples cover. A couples policy covers two adults (defined as someone over 18 who is not a dependant) who are viewed as 'long-term' partners by health insurance standards, which usually includes married couples and de facto relationships.

The cost of a couples health insurance policy is typically similar to the combined cost of two singles policies before considering any government rebates or Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading. 

In some cases, a couples health insurance policy might be cheaper. For example, if one person has a high LHC loading and the other has a low loading, the average LHC loading for the couples policy could be less than the higher loading on an individual policy. This means that for the person with the high loading, it might be cheaper to be on a couples policy rather than having their own.

Couples insurance also simplifies managing your policy and taxes since you'll receive one health insurance tax statement instead of two separate ones. 

It’s a good idea to review your options to ensure that a couples policy meets your healthcare needs and fits your budget.

A couples policy provides the same level of health cover for both partners, making it a straightforward and convenient option if you’re aligned on your health needs. A couples policy works best when you and your partner both agree on the coverage you need and how much you’re willing to pay. 

Your couples policy will cover you and your partner. If you're planning a family, you'll need to explore family cover options.

If you're on a couples health insurance policy and have recently given birth, you'll need to switch to family cover within two months of your baby's birth to avoid waiting periods. If you're already serving a waiting period, your baby will serve the same waiting period as you. Learn more about updating your dependants.

Pregnancy isn't covered under every nib policy. If you're planning on falling pregnant and would like to be covered, you'll need to choose a cover that includes pregnancy and birth-related services. If you've upgraded your level of cover, there’s a 12-month waiting period for pregnancy and birth-related services, so you'll need to wait at least three months before trying to conceive to allow time to complete the waiting period. Read more about pregnancy and newborn cover.

We'll recognise any waiting periods you've already served with us or a previous fund for the same level of cover but if you're upgrading to a cover with new services or higher limits, waiting periods may still apply.

Whether you join nib online or by phone we’ll handle everything. Just give us your previous fund details, and we’ll take care of contacting them and managing the paperwork. We’ll guide you through the process, let you know about any waiting periods, and ensure switching to nib is hassle-free so you can start claiming on your healthcare and taking advantage of our health and wellbeing services.