A dependent is a family member covered under your insurance policy. In Canadian health insurance, eligible dependents typically include your legal spouse or common-law partner, and your unmarried children up to a specific age — usually 21, or up to 25 if they are full-time students. Some plans extend dependent coverage for children with disabilities regardless of age if the disability existed before the age cutoff. When adding dependents to your policy, you move from an individual rate to a couple, single-parent, or family rate, which increases your premium. Each dependent has access to the same benefits as the primary plan member, and their claims are typically subject to the same deductibles, co-insurance rates, and annual maximums. Newborns are usually covered from birth if added within 30 days.