HCF Health Insurance Comparison – Private Health Care Australia
HCF health insurance overview
HCF is Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund, with 85 years of experience looking after Australians’ health and wellbeing. HCF began in Sydney in 1932 as The Metropolitan Hospitals Fund and has a proud history of growth and innovation.
HCF offers a broad range of insurance services to protect Australians. From private health insurance to life insurance, travel insurance and even pet insurance, they’re on a mission to build a healthier Australia.
How does HCF private health insurance compare?
HCF offers a range of private health insurance policies. You can choose from hospital-only, extras-only or combined hospital and extras cover, depending on your age, health and life stage.
In 2021, more than 1.75 million Australians held policies with HCF. Why?
- 85 years of experience: HCF has nearly a century of experience improving and safeguarding the health of Australians.
- Australia’s most trusted health fund: HCF was recognised as Australia’s most trusted health fund by the Roy Morgan Net Trust Survey from 2018-2020.
- Value: HCF has received Canstar’s national Outstanding Value Health Insurance Award for six consecutive years (2016-2021).
- Family-friendly: HCF promises no change to the cost of your health insurance premiums if you add children to your policy and no excess payment if your child goes to hospital.
- Not-for-profit: HCF’s profits are invested back into the health fund.
- Affordable: HCF premiums have been frozen until 1 November 2022 in recognition of the financial impact of the COVID pandemic.
- Mental health support: HCF Members have access to a range of mental health services, including video and online support.
- Everyday savings: HCF’s Thank You loyalty program gives eligible members access to offers and discounts from some of Australia’s leading retail brands.
Compare HCF private health insurance with other insurers on the No Worries panel.
How do HCF’s hospital-only policies stack up?
HCF hospital cover lets you get the treatment you need at private and public hospitals across Australia. If you go private, you can choose your hospital and the specialist who treats you and reduce the time you need to wait for surgery by skipping the public hospital waiting list. You’re also more likely to have a private room to recover in if you hold private health insurance.
If you’re a single person earning more than $90,000 per year or part of a couple earning more than $180,000 per annum, taking out hospital cover could also mean you avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge.
HCF offers four hospital plans, ranging from the entry-level Bronze Plus policy through to their top-level Gold cover for total peace of mind. HCF covered more than 652,000 hospital treatments in 2021.
All HCF hospital policies include emergency ambulance cover and no excess for kids.
- HCF Hospital Bronze Plus: HCF’s most affordable hospital policy, Bronze Plus is designed for healthy, budget-conscious young singles and couples. It includes cover for:
- Ear, nose and throat
- Bone, joint and muscle
- Hernia and appendix
- Gynaecology
- HCF Hospital Standard Silver Plus: Standard Silver Plus is a mid-level policy designed for singles and couples of all ages. It includes all services covered by Bronze Plus, along with:
- Heart and vascular system
- Back, neck and spine
- Implantation of hearing devices
- Rehabilitation
- HCF Hospital Silver Plus: HCF’s Silver Plus offers comprehensive hospital cover for Australians of all ages. It doesn’t cover pregnancy and birth, so if you’re planning a family, Hospital Gold is likely to be a better policy for you. Silver Plus includes all hospital treatments covered by Standard Silver Plus policies, plus:
- Cataracts
- Joint replacements
- Dialysis for chronic kidney failure
- Pain management with device
- HCF Hospital Gold: HCF’s top-level hospital cover, Hospital Gold offers a high level of cover and no excess for same-day treatment. Pregnancy and birth are included in Hospital Gold, making it a sensible choice for people starting or growing their family. These policies also include cover for:
- Assisted reproductive services
- Weight loss surgery
- Hospital psychiatric services
Compare HCF hospital cover with other health funds and save.
What extras cover does HCF offer?
Extras cover – sometimes called ancillary cover – covers you for out-of-hospital care for services Medicare excludes. Depending on your extras policy, you could receive up to 100% back on the costs of dental, optical, physiotherapy and other extras services with HCF.
HCF covered 10 million extras services and returned more than $595 million to members who held extras cover in 2021.
HCF offers five levels of extras cover, from entry-level Starter cover through to their premium Top cover, which provides the highest limits and benefits for all included extras services. All HCF extras policies offer 100% back on one dental check per year when you visit a provider who’s part of their No-Gap network (though be aware that waiting periods and annual limits apply).
- HCF Starter Extras: This budget-friendly extras policy covers general dental and selected therapies. It doesn’t cover optical, major dental, audiology or occupational therapy.
- HCF Starter Extras (with optical): HCF’s Starter Extras (with optical) is a step up from their Starter Extras cover. As the name suggests, it covers optical services and also offers higher claim limits than basic Starter Extras cover.
- HCF Mid Extras: This mid-range extras cover includes major dental and offers higher annual limits on services like physiotherapy, osteopathy, myotherapy and remedial massage.
- HCF Vital Extras: Vital Extras offers comprehensive extras coverage that includes orthodontics, hearing and vision aids, health management programs and more. You’ll also receive 100% back on your first visit to a physiotherapist, chiropractor, osteologist or podiatrist when you visit a provider who’s part of our No-Gap network.
- HCF Top Extras: Top Extras is HCF’s premium extras policy, providing the highest limits and benefits for all included extras services. Members are also rewarded with higher annual limits the longer they hold a Top Extras policy, up to a maximum amount.
Find the right extras cover for you.
Does HCF health insurance include ambulance cover?
Medicare doesn’t cover the cost of ambulance or other emergency services to get you to hospital unless you have a concession or health care card. Ambulance fees can be expensive, so it’s worth ensuring you’re covered for any ambulance trips.
If you live in Queensland or Tasmania, the ambulance service is free. Residents in other states need ambulance cover to avoid paying fees.
With HCF, emergency ambulance over is available with all hospital plans after a one-day waiting period.
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How does HCF’s extras cover make dental care more affordable?
t’s easy to incur significant out-of-pocket costs at the dentist. HCF’s No-Gap Dental program gives members who attend an HCF Dental Centre or More for Teeth provider 100% back on a range of common diagnostic and preventative dental services, depending on their level of cover and annual limits. In 2021, members saved a total of $65 million and an average out-of-pocket cost of $156 on general dental using HCF’s More for Teeth program.
More than 12,600 dental providers are part of the HCF More for Teeth program, which includes check-ups, crowns and bridges, extractions, fillings veneers, x-rays and more.
Compare health insurance dental offers with No Worries.
What are some of HCF’s health management programs?
HCF offers a wide range of health management programs to support members to be their healthiest selves, including:
- Exercise classes and gym membership: If your doctor or physiotherapist has recommended an exercise or gym program to treat a specific medical condition, you may be able to claim towards the cost.
- Weight management: Members may be able to claim for a dietician-led, HCF-approved weight management program.
- Childbirth education: HCF members may be able to claim towards classes run by an HCF-recognised childbirth educator. The program must be run by an AHPRA-registered nurse or midwife and could be face-to-face or online.
- Healthy Weight for Life: Members who’ve held eligible hospital cover for 12 months may qualify for HCF’s fully-covered Healthy Weight for Life program. This program helps people over 18 with a BMI above 28 and osteoarthritis to lose weight.
- Learn to swim classes: Members may be able to claim for swimming lessons run by approved swim schools.
- Bowel cancer testing: Members over 50 will be sent a free bowel cancer screening kit every two or four years, depending on their age. These kits are provided by the National Bowel Cancer Screening Program.
Compare health insurance offers and get better health cover at a lower price with No Worries.
What discounts does the HCF Thank You program offer?
HCF’s Thank You loyalty program gives members access to services, programs and discounts from some of Australia’s leading retail brands, including:
- 4% off Woolworths eGift cards
- 5% off JB Hi-fi eGift cards
- 5% off Harvey Norman eGift cards
- 8% off Rebel eGift cards
On average, members can save close to $1,500 each year using HCF Thank You.
Get a no-obligation health insurance comparison today – call 1800 318 223.
Does HCF have a mobile app?
Yes. HCF’s My Membership app lets you review your policy, manage your details, and access rewards via the HCF Thank You program 24/7, from wherever you are. You can also make extras and ambulance claims quickly and easily by taking a photo of your invoice and submitting it via the app.
HCF’s My Membership app is free and can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.
How do I switch to HCF?
Switching your health insurance to HBF? We’ll take care of the paperwork and waive any waiting periods you’ve already served with an existing Australian health fund. Call 1800 318 223 to speak to one of our consultants about getting private health insurance that’s right for you.
Get better health cover at a lower price – call No Worries today.
How do I make a claim with an HCF private health insurance policy?
HCF makes it easy to lodge a claim. You can swipe your membership card through the HICAPS terminal at participating extras providers, claim in person at any HCF branch, or lodge your claim online through the HCF website or mobile app.
