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HCF health insurance at a glance
- Winner of the Best of the Best award and the Customer Service Organisation of the Year (large business) award at the 2023 Australian Service Excellence Awards.
- Through HCF’s nationwide network of participating providers, members could get up to 100% back on a range of eligible no-gap services.
- Eligible members can take advantage of unique health programs and services, such as customised telehealth programs and support services.
- As a HCF member, you can enjoy discounts on a range of expenses, from groceries to movies.
About HCF health insurance
Founded in 1932, HCF has over 90 years of experience looking after the health and wellbeing of their members. They have grown to become Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund with over 1.9 million members.
HCF prides themselves on their commitment to putting the health of their members first. As a result, HCF has paid their members more benefits than the industry average over the past 10 years.
What does HCF health insurance cover?
Hospital cover
HCF hospital insurance will pay a benefit towards hospital treatment as a private patient when you’re admitted to hospital as an inpatient and the service is listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS). With hospital cover, you have the benefit of being able to avoid public waiting lists, choose your available treating doctor and stay in a private room (if available).
HCF offers a range of different hospital products from Basic to Gold, including several plus-tiered policies to cater for various healthcare needs.
Extras cover
With a HCF extras policy, you’ll be able to claim on certain non-hospital services where Medicare doesn’t pay a benefit. This includes, but isn’t limited to, services such as dental, physiotherapy and optical.
HCF members could get up to 100% back on a range of eligible no-gap services when visiting one of their many participating providers.
Why choose HCF health insurance?
- As a not-for-profit health fund, you can have confidence that HCF is putting their members first.
- The HCF My Membership app makes claiming for extras easy. Plus, you can check your remaining limits, estimate how much you will get back, update your details and much more.
- As a HCF member, you can access a range of medical resources such as online GP consultations, heart checks, hospital safety and quality statistics, and hospital procedure guides.
- You can access a growing range of special rewards and offers through HCF’s Thank You program.
Frequently asked questions
This will vary depending on your state of residence and level of cover. If you need hospital or on-the-spot treatment in Australia, HCF may cover the cost of emergency ambulance services with state government services.
Yes, HCF will pay a benefit towards hospital treatment relating to a pre-existing condition provided you have served the relevant waiting period, are admitted to hospital as an inpatient and the service is listed on the MBS.
Depending on the type of hospital treatment, you’ll likely have to serve a 12-month waiting period before you can claim. Pre-existing conditions don’t affect your waiting periods for extras services.
If you’re switching to HCF from another fund and have already served any waiting periods that relate to your pre-existing condition, you won’t be required to serve them again provided you’re joining the same or lower level of cover; you’ll only be required to serve a waiting period for any upgrades to your policy or if there’s a gap in your cover. If you have only partially served a waiting period when switching to HCF, you’ll be required to complete the remaining time before claiming.
Yes, waiting periods for hospital treatment are standard across all Australian health funds. This includes a 12-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions (excluding rehabilitation, palliative care and psychiatric services) and pregnancy and birth, and 2 months for everything else.
The waiting periods for extras services will depend on your policy and the services that are included. Unlike hospital cover, extras waiting periods are set by the fund.
HCF members can choose from a range of claiming options for extras services. You could claim on the spot using your physical or digital membership card when your healthcare provider has a HICAPS machine. Alternatively, you can submit your claim on the My Membership app, using your online member services account, in a branch or by post.
When claiming on hospital cover, the hospital will typically bill HCF directly. You’ll usually pay the hospital directly if there’s an excess or any out-of-pocket expenses.
You can pay your premiums weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or yearly. There’s no discount for paying annually.
You can pay your premiums through the following:
- Direct debit
- American Express, MasterCard and VISA
- BPAY
- Online
- Over the phone.
You’ll typically need to pay an excess when you’re admitted to hospital as an inpatient and claim a benefit on your hospital policy. Depending on your policy, you may be able to reduce your premium by opting for a higher excess and vice versa.
As a HCF member, you won’t pay an excess for accident-related treatment or for any dependents that are included on the policy and under the age of 25.
You’ll only pay the excess once per adult (or dependent aged 25 and over) per calendar year, regardless of how many times you claim.
To cancel your HCF health insurance policy, all you need to do is give them a call. Alternatively, you can submit a request to cancel your cover via HCF’s online member services.
Eligible members may also have the option of suspending their membership instead of cancelling due to financial hardship or international travel.
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