The policy you chose for a newborn probably isn't the one your teenagers need
Braces, sport injuries, orthotics and mental health support replace pregnancy and paediatric visits — and most families are still paying for the old shape of cover. We compare 14 funds and rebuild it around who's actually in the house now.
- Orthodontics waiting periods started early, before the braces quote
- Dropping obstetrics you'll never claim on again
- Dependants covered to 25 studying — and to 31 with some funds
- Top extras where the limits actually match teenage claims
- No markup · 14 funds compared · PHII Code member
What changes when the kids get older
Extras claims shift shape
Small children generate check-ups and fillings. Teenagers generate orthodontics, sports physio, orthotics, and increasingly psychology. Those benefits sit in different places on the extras table, with different limits and much longer waiting periods.
Hospital needs change too
Pregnancy and birth are usually behind you, which is the single largest driver of Gold-tier pricing. Meanwhile the adults in the house start needing categories that Bronze and Silver handle well. That combination is why Silver Plus is so often the right answer at this stage.
What it typically costs
Top extras is where orthodontics appears, so it's usually the deciding line item for families with teenagers.
- Silver hospital cover with top extras for a family. Top extras is where orthodontics appears.
Orthodontics: the one you have to plan for
Braces are the most expensive predictable claim a family makes, and extras cover is designed to make you wait for it. Expect a 12-month waiting period at minimum, an annual limit, and a lifetime limit that accrues the longer you hold the cover.
- 01
Start the clock early
Begin the waiting period before your dentist raises braces, not after — a referral doesn't change the clock.
- 02
Read the lifetime limit
Not just the annual one. Two children in braces can exhaust a shared lifetime limit surprisingly quickly.
- 03
Switching can reset accruals
Some funds restart orthodontic accrual on transfer. If braces are close, staying put can be the cheaper decision.
- 04
Per person or per policy?
Ask how the limit is applied. This single detail can be worth thousands across two or three teenagers.
If braces are already on the table
Tell us the quote and the timeline. We'll model staying versus switching honestly, and if your current policy is better for this claim we'll tell you to keep it.
Where established families are usually overpaying
- Gold hospital held for obstetrics that's no longer relevant.
- A policy last reviewed when the eldest was a toddler, carrying five or six annual increases.
- Extras limits set for two small children now shared across three teenagers.
- A working 22-year-old paying for their own policy when your fund would cover them as a dependant.
- Duplicate ambulance cover already included in a state scheme or a second policy.
Three simple steps to better value health cover
No call-centre runaround, no pushy sales. Just clear comparisons and an expert by your side from start to switch.
- Step 1
Tell us a little about you
Two minutes. A few quick questions about who needs cover, what matters, and what you currently pay.
- Step 2
An experienced advisor compares 800 policies from 30 brands
We do the legwork — matching the right policy to your needs and budget, not the one paying the highest commission.
- Step 3
We walk you through and switch you over
Clear options, no jargon. If you decide to switch, we'll handle the paperwork — and stay on call afterwards.
Rated 4.8 stars from 250 real customer reviews
"Saved $612 a year and got better extras for our two kids. The whole switch took 15 minutes — and our advisor still answers when I call."
How we get paid — and why it doesn't change our advice
Comparify is a completely free service for you. Like other comparison services, we're paid a commission by the health fund if you take out a policy — but our advice isn't influenced by which fund pays more, and we never mark up your premium - we guarantee it. It's called the Comparify Price Promise. If you find the exact same policy elsewhere for less, we'll refund you 200% of the difference.
Established families: common questions
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