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Why trust HBF for your health insurance?
We're not-for-profit
We’ve been in the business of health since 1941
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Benefits of HBF membership
HBF Member Perks
HBF members get access to a range of offers as part of our Member Perks program. You’ll find discounts on gym memberships, shopping, entertainment and more*.
Health programs
Pharmacy services
Eligible HBF members can use their extras cover for flu vaccinations, health checks and more.
Frequently asked questions
What is health insurance?
Also known as health cover, health insurance is an umbrella term for the types of insurances available to help cover your healthcare costs in Australia: hospital insurance and extras insurance.
Hospital insurance
Also known as hospital cover, hospital insurance helps cover some of the costs when you're admitted to hospital. It can help cover some of the costs for things like doctors' fees, accommodation and theatre fees.
Extras insurance
Also known as ancillary cover or extras cover, extras insurance helps cover some or all of the costs for everyday healthcare services including things like dental check-ups, physio appointments and glasses or contacts. These services are generally not covered by Medicare.
With HBF, you can choose to purchase hospital or extras insurance on their own, or you can buy both to create a combined policy.
Learn more:
What is hospital insurance?
Also known as hospital cover, hospital insurance helps cover costs when you're admitted to hospital. It covers things like your doctors' fees, accommodation and theatre fees.
What is extras cover and what does it include?
Also known as ancillary cover or extras cover, extras insurance helps cover the cost of everyday healthcare services including things like dental check-ups, physio appointments and glasses or contacts. These services are generally not covered by Medicare.
Who does health insurance cover?
How long can my kids stay on my policy?
Dependent children can stay covered on a parent or guardian’s policy until the day before they turn 31 so long as they aren’t married or in a de-facto relationship.
Learn more about Keeping your kids covered until age 31
Can I purchase maternity cover with no waiting period?
No. HBF, like most health funds, have a 12-month waiting period for pregnancy and birth. Waiting periods help to discourage people from signing up for health cover, claiming and leaving soon after, which drives premiums up for all other members of the health fund.
What is a not-for-profit health fund?
HBF is a not-for-profit health fund. A not-for-profit uses any money it makes to further its business objectives and cover the cost of running the business, like paying utilities bills and staff. Any surplus earnings (profits) are also used to help further the not-for-profit's mission.
For-profit businesses have the same overheads as not-for-profits, however they use some or all profits to pay shareholders or investors.
What is 'community rating'?
In Australia, insurance is either 'community rated' or 'risk rated'. Health insurance is 'community rated'. Community rating is part of private health insurance legislation and dictates that everyone living in the same state is entitled to get private health insurance and pay the same base price for the same health insurance policies. This means health funds cannot set a person's health insurance premium using individual factors like age, gender, lifestyle or physical condition.
