HBF, which stands for Hospital Benefit Fund, is based in Western Australia and has been providing health cover to Australians since 1941. Their mascot is the famous WA quokka.
HBF is a not-for-profit fund, owned by more than a million members. The fund offers
a range of policies, from budget cover through to comprehensive plans.
Members receive discounts on health-related products and services, along with free health coaching over the phone.
Nobody chooses to go to hospital. But when you do, hospital cover will help you get the treatment you need, where and when you want it. It also helps to pay the bills, as fees for hospital rooms and specialists can add up.
Think about what services you’re likely to need, in line with your budget. If you earn over $90,000 individually or $180,000 as a couple, you could avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge.
HBF offers five hospital plans for a variety of ages, life stages and budgets. Each level of cover, from Basic to Gold, builds on the level before it.
All HBF extras, hospital and combined policies have emergency ambulance cover included (excluding air ambulance).
From dental, to optical, to chiro and more, extras insurance helps cover the bills for routine treatments with rebates of up to 100%.
We’ve summarised the key points of each plan below but it’s always worth digging a little deeper. Look at gap fees, how much you can claim back, and whether your preferred healthcare provider, such as your local dentist, has an agreement with the health fund.
Take the time to work out what you need and what you’re prepared to pay. If this feels a bit overwhelming, you can speak to one of our experts who can talk you through what’s included in each extras policy.
HBF offers five extras policies to suit a range of needs. You can purchase a policy on its own or combine it with hospital cover.
To stop people signing up, claiming, then cancelling their health insurance, all insurers apply waiting periods. Generally, the more expensive the treatment, the longer you’ll wait. But keep an eye out for special deals with waiting periods reduced or waived.
And remember, if you’re switching to equivalent or lower cover you usually won’t have to serve any new waiting periods.
HBF members get access to a range of discounts and health programs:
Claim via the free HBF Health app or online, or by sending a claim form through the post. You can also claim on the spot when you visit a provider that offers HICAPS.
HBF has agreements with many private hospitals and day clinics across Australia. When comparing policies, it’s worth checking if your local hospitals and clinics are covered. Our specialists at Health Insurance Comparison can do this for you.
HBF received 6.1% of the total health complaints in 2019, significantly under their market share of 7.5%.
Anyone applying for any HBF health insurance policy must comply with the HBF Fund Rules and any other requirements of HBF.
HBF isn’t on our panel but we’re confident we can get you a great deal on your health insurance.
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