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Dave63(Newbie)Newbie
23 June 2025

I've read contrary information.

I'm about to move in with my girlfriend and she will become my defacto.

We understand that she needs to pay the MLS as she doesn't have private health insurance and our combined income is over the threshold.

But I do have private health insurance.

I've had contradictory advice that even though I pay over $300/month on my private health insurance, that I'd also need to pay the MLS for myself in addition to my girlfriend paying it.

Other advice said only the person that doesn't have private health insurance pays the MLS but is assessed based upon combined income.

It doesn't make sense to me that I would have to pay the MLS when I already pay a fortune for my private health insurance - so that doesn't sound right.

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433 views
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knaresbro(Devotee)Devotee
23 June 2025

Further to the reply from @Taxduck , it's worth noting that the Australian family law definition differs (as read by someone who is not in the legal profession) from that of the ATO with respect to the period of time a de facto couple have cohabitated, namely "two years or more" and "at any time" respectively. See the following, previous Forum post for details.

https://community.ato.gov.au/s/question/a0J9s0000001Crg/p00025759


Accordingly, @Dave63 , may I suggest that by "about to move in" you might have meant "soon after 1 July" and, before then, your girlfriend obtains private health cover so you're both fully covered for the entirety of FY26?

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Do I need to pay MLS if I have my own private health insurance, but my defacto doesn't? | ATO Community