HBF Health Insurance is one of the largest member health funds in Australia, with more than 70 years’ worth of experience, and over 900,000 members. This Western Australia based health fund is a members-owned, not-for-profit organisation, which offers a wide variety of health insurance products, from budget cover to comprehensive health protection.
HBF Health Insurance Review
Published: July 21, 2017
The fact is that taking out private health insurance sooner rather than later can save you a lot of money in the long-term. More than that, it also gives you peace of mind knowing you and your family will be taken care of should you become ill or injured.
ComparingExpert does not currently have access to this provider. Visit www.hbf.com.au to request a quote and compare their price and benefits to the Australian private health insurance companies we have access to.
HBF private health insurance options
HBF’s health insurance include 4 Hospital Only insurance options, each designed to suit you at a different stage of your life. They also offer 7 Extras Only insurance options, from simple dental cover to comprehensive general treatment cover. Alternatively, you can choose to combine HBF hospital and extras cover by selecting one of their package options.
HBF Benefits
- HBF Hospital members are fully covered for 82% of medical treatments in Western Australian hospitals.
- On average, HBF covers 94.4% of the total hospital bill, including accommodation, theatre, prosthesis, and in-hospital pharmacy fees in Western Australia.
- If you switch from another health fund to HBF, you won’t have to re-serve any waiting periods.
- Visit a Member Plus dentist in Western Australia and enjoy access to a range of dental benefits each year.
- Members can visit one of several Member Plus optical stores in Western Australia and enjoy substantial discounts on frames.
- Bundle and save: If you combine home, car, or travel insurance with your HBF health cover you’ll enjoy significant savings on premiums.
- Children are covered for free on an HBF family policy.
- You gain free access to their Pocket Health app to help you achieve your health and fitness goals.
| What’s Covered? | Young Saver Hospital | Mid-Hospital | Healthy Saver Hospital | Top Hospital |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full cover for a shared room in an HBF Member Plus Hospital | ||||
| Full cover for a private room in an HBF Member Plus Hospital | ||||
| Psychiatric Care | ||||
| Rehabilitation | ||||
| Non-PBS in-hospital Pharmacy | ||||
| Emergency Ambulance Services | ||||
| Hospital Excess | ||||
| Eye Surgery, including cataracts and eye lens procedures | ||||
| Cardiac-Related Services | ||||
| Joint Replacement Surgery | ||||
| Maternity and Birth-Related Services | ||||
| Assisted Reproductive Services (IVF) | ||||
| Full cover for a private room for maternity patients in an HBF Member Plus Hospital | ||||
| Podiatric Surgery |
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Basic Extras Cover
| Saver Flexi Extras | Dental Saver |
| Low coast cover, from $5 per week. Covers general dental and urgent ambulance. | Basic cover for general dental services only. From $2.95 per week. |
Plus you can choose two of the following options to add on:
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Mid Level Cover
| Easy 8 | Standard Extras |
| You receive cover for HBF’s eight most popular extras services. | You’ll be covered for 18 extras services, including everything listed in Easy 8 |
| From $9.15 per week and 80% back on most services, | From $8.05 per week |
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Premium Extras
| Flexi Extras | Premium Extras Mid | Premium Extras Plus |
| From $12.90 per week | From $12.15 per week | From $19.15 per week |
| Choose 10 extras services from a list of 19 options, so you can tailor extras to suit your specific needs. | A more comprehensive extras option with 20 health services and 70% back on dental at HBF Member Plus dentists. | The highest level of Extras cover available from HBF, with generous annual benefit limits on 39 Extras services. |
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Young Singles Saver Twin Pack
From $17.70 per week. Perfect for fit and healthy young singles who don’t want to pay for things like maternity and joint replacements.
- Low cost.
- Choose your own doctor.
- Cover for 5,000+ hospital treatments and seven Extras.
- Fully covered for a shared room at a Member Plus hospital.
- Avoid public waiting lists.
Smart Saver Twin Pack
From $29.35 per week. Designed for growing families who wants cover for maternity, IVF, and full cover for a private room when giving birth.
- Cover for 5,000+ hospital treatments and nine Extras.
- No gap to pay for kids’ preventative dental at HBF Member Plus dentists.
Prime Health Package
From $38.30 per week. Comprehensive hospital cover ideal for seniors, either single or couple.
- Higher benefits paid out for Extras services
- Cover for 5,000+ hospital treatments and 16 Extras
- Fully covered for a shared room at a Member Plus hospital
- Includes cover for heart treatments, joint replacements, and cataracts
- Fully covered Friendlies health check each year
Ultimate Package
From $90.55 per week. Australia’s most comprehensive level of Hospital and Extras, offering you complete peace of mind.
- Full cover for most hospital treatments
- Up to 100% back on Extras
- Up to 90-100% back on a comprehensive list of Extras
- Your choice of hospital and practitioner
HBF GapSaver Review
GapSaver covers the ‘gap’ between the total costs of your treatments and what’s covered under your policy. It consist of four levels of cover and can be added to most Hospital, Packages, or Extras policies.
- You’ll have a little money set aside to use for out-of-pocket expenses for hospital treatments and eligible Extras treatments, like dental services.
- GapSaver benefits accumulate quarterly, year after year, and they don’t expire unless you no longer have HBF cover.
- You can choose to automatically get your GapSaver benefits when you claim, or on a claim-by-claim basis.
- If you’re entitled to the Australian Government Rebate on private health insurance, you could accumulate more GapSaver dollars than you pay in premiums.
- GapSaver can only be used on eligible services that are covered on your policy.
- Only GapSaver dollars accumulated at the date of service can be used towards your claim.
HBF Private Health Insurance Exclusions, Waiting Periods, and Excesses
What’s not covered | Exclusions
- If your membership is un-financial at the time of treatment/service, for instance if your premium payments are in arrears.
- If you claim for services/treatments performed outside of Australia.
- If you claim for procedures/treatments that Medicare doesn’t offer a benefit for, like elective cosmetic surgery.
- If your claim is not lodged within two years of the date of service.
- If you claim for treatments/services performed during the waiting period on your policy.
- If you claim for treatment that’s excluded from your health insurance policy.
- If it could be covered by workers’ compensation, third party insurance, or some other legal right.
- Care and accommodation in nursing homes.
- If it’s for a treatment/service that hasn’t been received yet.
- If it’s for out-patient treatment/services.
Waiting periods
- Accidents: Immediately covered.
- Most services and benefits (excluding accidents): 2 months waiting period.
- Pre-existing conditions and pregnancy: 12 month waiting period.
Excess Amounts
Your excess must be paid when you are hospitalised overnight and only needs to be paid once per year per policy member, up to twice a year on a family policy. You can choose a higher excess to lower your premiums, or a lower excess and pay higher premiums.
HBF Health Insurance FAQs
What is HBF “Run for a Reason”?
HBF Run for a Reason is the fitness event regularly hosted by HBF all across Australia. These walking and running events aim to encourage individuals to participate for a specific reason that’s most important to them, like losing weight, improving their fitness, or raising funds for a charity that they feel strongly about.
HBF also helps its members prepare for the HBF Run for a Reason with eight weeks free training with HBF Fitness. HBF Fitness gives you 17 outdoor locations and four group fitness levels to choose from.
What are the HBF benefits?
HBF member benefits include:
- Up to $1,000 of Momentum member benefits,
- Free health checks and flu vaccinations,
- Discounted fitness events,
- 15% off at Friendlies pharmacies, and
- Exclusive discounts at HBF Stadiums,
- 10% off gym memberships,
- Access to designated free HBF member sessions three times a week,
- Discounted personal training sessions, and
- 15% off Rival Swimwear and Running Bare sportswear.
HBF offers a diverse range of health insurance products, suitable to young singles and couples, growing families and seniors. To make sure you’re getting the best possible cover at the best possible price, it might be worth comparing HBF to other top health insurance companies in Australia.
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18 Comments
Hello,
I am writing this email inquiry since the website’s price comparison window didn’t submit the info I inputted.
What would your quote be for a four-person family (2 adults, 2 kids) to sign up for the ‘Young Saver Hospital’ option and just basic GP visits (60% coverage of GP costs)?
We live in NSW. I presume that your coverage would apply to us here as well.
I’d appreciate your reply. Thanks!
Karin
Hello Karin,
Thanks for reaching out. When filling in the above quote form be sure to provide a relevant contact number as a health insurance specialist will give you a call and take you through the companies and cover types most suited to your particular situation.
In the meantime, you can read our review of Australia’s Best Family Health Insurers or perhaps you would like to consult the privatehealth.gov.au website for a complete list of health funds and their respective offerings.
Hello,
Could you please advise what the waiting period is for IVF services. I live in NSW and would be using a NSW hospital, would this also be covered?
Thanks
Tamara
Hi Tamara,
Generally, most private health funds will apply a 12 month waiting period for assisted reproductive services, like IVF. However, HBF does state on their website that if there is no pre-existing condition that has led to the need for IVF, your waiting period might only be 2 months.
HBF’s Smart Saver Twin Pack provides cover for IVF treatment. Premiums start at about $29.35 per week as at February 2018. This does not include the premium increases that apply from 1 April 2018.
Medicare rebates normally cover a portion of the costs of each treatment cycle, up to 75% of the standard fees charged. Private health insurers usually cover the costs associated with in-hospital treatments and some of the IVF related medications, depending on your insurer.
Other private health insurers providing cover for IVF include:
• Medibank Growing Family Complete
• Bupa Growing Family
• Australian Unity Platinum Hospital
• HCF Premium Hospital
No one can give me a simple answer to the below questions. I am a HBF member, number is 28788***, with a single prime health policy.
Appoint with Psychiatrist only. Who relate to HBF.
The Cost of first appointment
The cost following each other appointments
Kindly give understandable answers to above.
Hello Dulcie,
From your question, it seems you’re wanting to know what HBF will pay for psychiatric appointments (first time, as well as follow-ups) and what out-of-pocket costs you can expect.
Psychologists and psychiatrists usually work in tandem:
• Psychologists focus on treating emotional and mental suffering and cannot write prescriptions. You might have regular appointments with your psychologist to address specific issues.
• Psychiatrist are trained medical doctors that can prescribe medications. You’ll probably only have to visit your Psychiatrist every 3 to 6 months to manage your medications.
As an HBF Prime Health Package holder, you can claim on Clinical Psychologist assessments from $79 up to a maximum of $720. Consultations and individual treatment from a clinical psychologist will provide a benefit from $44 up to a maximum of $720.
According to their website, HBF only provides cover for psychiatric care and treatment when carried out in a hospital. Of course, as an HBF client, they would be the best people to contact. Please call them on 133 423.
There is generally a 2-month waiting period for clinical psychologists and psychiatric care.
Hello,
Does the 10% off gym memberships apply to all gym memberships and what are the healthy living programs mentioned?
Hi Paul,
HBF Momentum members get 10% off their Snap Fitness gym memberships and up to 15% at Jetta.
Please visit the HBF website for the types of services included in their Healthy Living Programs.
Hi there,
I am interested in applying for insurance. I am a Canadian on a working visa in Australia.
Can I apply for insurance under these circumstances? How much would it cost me?
Does the insurance cover me in Australia, Canada, Indonesia or anywhere I travel to?
Is there a limit of how much you can use the insurance in a year/month?
Do I send the claims to you or does the hospitals etc fill out the claim?
The services that I am interested having covered are:
Optical
Osteopathy
Urgent ambulance
Remedial massage
Natural therapies
Nutritionist
Psychology
Occupational therapy
Healthy living programs
Thank you!
Hi Jazzmyn.
I’m going to try and answer all your questions, but if I miss anything please feel free to call 1300 786 328 for a specialist to assist you.
1. Yes, you can apply for private health insurance when on a working visa in Australia. In fact, since 2009, if you apply for a working visa you are required to apply for at least a minimum level of health insurance prior to being granted a visa.
2. The cost of health insurance depends on the type and level of cover you choose; Hospital only, Extras only or Combined Hospital and Extras.
3. Generally, private health funds in Australia covers you Australian-wide but will not cover overseas medical expenses.
4. Health insurance policies have an annual limit on the maximum benefit you can claim for. The limit is dependent on the level of cover you choose; basic, medium or comprehensive.
5. You can claim health insurance Extras usually on the spot by swiping your membership card at the place where you’ve received treatment OR go online and claim via the health fund’s online claim section OR fill out a claim form (which you can download from the insurer’s website), attach your invoice and receipt and post it to the insurer. For in-hospital expenses, the bill will generally be sent straight to your health insurance provider.
6. Please fill in the quote form above for a specialist to give you a call and help you compare which health fund will give you coverage for the items you’ve listed. Or you can start your search by reviewing the top 10 health funds in Australia.
What is HBF service and performance in Victoria like ? How many members do they have in Victoria ?
Hello Mary.
You might want to request a quote from HBF and compare their offering to other health insurance companies in Australia to determine how they stack up. To learn more about what others think about the health fund, you could jump onto a chat forum, like whirlpool, and have a read of some of the discussion there.
I set up health cover for my daughter, transferring to HBF from Goldfields Medical Fund a few years ago. She has now moved to Melbourne for work which was to be short term, but it looks like it will be extended. Is she covered for treatment at any hospitals in Melbourne? and is she covered on her Young Singles Saver Twinpack & Gap Saver if she remains living in Melbourne for a couple of years?
Hello Glenys.
Generally, when moving interstate your health fund will still provide coverage, however, insurance premiums and some benefits might change. Your daughter will need to contact HBF and update her details, then review whether her current policy still suits her. She can register for myHBF (their online member’s portal) and easily manage and update her cover.
Hi.
I would like to know if my husband and I would be eligible to join HBF if we live in South Australia? Would we share all the benefits of those that live in WA are privy to?
We are in or close to our 60s.
Thank you.
Hi Janet.
Generally, the state you live in should not affect the benefits you have access to. However, it will affect the premium you pay for the same level of coverage. Please call 1300 795 560 for assistance.
Hi there
I’m 65 and I would like to know if I can have private health insurance? Do I have to pay that gap from age 30 to now like other companies?
Hi Sharee. Thanks for reaching out.
Are you maybe referring to the Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading? If so, then yes, the LHC loading applies to everyone and all health funds. If you did not have a complying hospital policy on the 1st of July following your 31st birthday or been granted an exemption, you’re generally liable to pay the 2% yearly loading. In your case, you might have to pay 68% more for your private health insurance policy. Please call 1300 795 560 for immediate assistance from a health insurance specialist.