Review your HBF health cover

If it’s been a while since you reviewed your cover, or your circumstances have changed, we can help you explore your options so you can be confident about your membership with us.

Get a recommendation Compare covers

Is it time to update your cover?

Life circumstances can change over the years, so it’s likely your health cover will need to change with you. If you’re planning kids, have recently settled down with a partner, or have uncovered new health needs, it’s likely time to take a look at your cover.

Review your health needs

Consider your family’s health history, any pre-existing conditions or health needs and whether there are any services you anticipate you’ll need in future (such as Pregnancy and birth). You should also chat to your GP for their advice on any risk factors you may have and keep your budget in mind when comparing covers.

Compare your cover options

Compare our health insurance products against your health needs and decide which level of cover suits you. Not sure where to start? Try our recommendation tool.

Make the move

To update your cover, drop into your nearest branch, call us on 133 423 or request a call back to chat to one of our friendly member service consultants. We’ll work with you to make sure you’ve picked the right cover for your health needs and explain key features about your new cover including what's covered, what's not covered, any waiting periods you may need to service, and how to get the most out of your new cover.

Receive your new documents

Our team will send your new policy documentation by mail or email (depending on how you’ve opted to receive communications from us). You’ll also find this information in myHBF or the HBF App.

Waiting periods for new services, increased annual limits and lowered excess

New hospital and extras services

If you switch to a higher level of cover, you may be covered for additional services. For any new services not covered under your existing cover, you will need to serve a waiting period before you can claim. Waiting periods vary between hospital and extras cover, and by service. You can learn more about what waiting periods may apply in your relevant product sheet.

Higher annual limits on extras services

When you switch to a higher level of extras cover, you may get access to a higher annual limit for a service already covered on your previous level of cover. When this happens, you will need to serve a waiting period before you can access your new annual limit. You can view the relevant waiting periods in our Membership Guide (PDF).

While you wait, you will have access to your old annual limits. For instance, if you upgrade from Flex 50 to Flex 60, your annual limit for Optical will increase from $200 to $220; while you are serving your two-month waiting period for the $220 annual limit, you can still access up to $200 in Optical benefits.

Reducing or removing your hospital excess

When you switch to a lower hospital excess, or remove it altogether, you will need to serve a waiting period before your new lower (or nil) excess will be applied. If you claim on your hospital cover during the waiting period, you will need to pay your old excess.

Call us on 133 423 or visit your nearest branch to make a change to your policy or discuss your cover options.

How do I make changes to my policy?

If you want to make changes to your policy, for example upgrading or downgrading your health insurance products, please call us on 133 423 or visit your local branch so that we can discuss your options with you.

I’m moving interstate, does this affect my policy?

All HBF hospital and extras covers can be used in all Australian states. However, price varies by state so it's important to tell us when your state of residency changes. Please note, ambulance covers are not available in all states.

What is a waiting period?

A waiting period is a period of time during which you must hold continuous membership under a particular health cover before you are entitled to receive a benefit at the level payable on that cover. You can claim benefits applicable on your level of cover for services or treatment you receive after you have served your waiting periods.

Waiting periods applicable on your level of cover are listed on the relevant product sheet.

Why does HBF have waiting periods?

All health funds, including HBF, have waiting periods to help stop people from signing up, claiming and leaving without contributing money (premiums) to the fund - which wouldn't be fair to other members.

Waiting periods apply when you:

Purchase health insurance for the first time
Change your level of cover and end up with new services that were not on your previous cover. You'll have to serve the relevant waiting periods for the new services before you can claim any benefits
Change your level of cover and end up with higher benefits and/or limits. You'll have to serve the relevant waiting periods before you can claim the increased benefits and/or limits. During this waiting period, you may be able to claim as per your previous cover
Decrease your hospital excess. You'll have to serve the relevant waiting periods before you can pay the lower excess. During this waiting period, you may be able to claim and the excess on your previous cover will apply
Re-join a fund after a break from cover

Where you have continuous hospital cover and change your level of cover or switch to HBF, we'll honour any waiting periods you served on your previous health cover, so you won't have to re-serve them. If you are part-way through a waiting period, you'll just have to serve the remainder before you can claim.

What is a hospital excess?

An excess is a sum of money you pay upfront before you receive hospital treatment. Generally, the higher your excess, the lower your premium.

An excess is paid once per member, per calendar year (to a maximum of twice per couple or family policy) no matter how many times you may be hospitalised. Excess applies for day and overnight admissions.

You won’t be required to pay an excess for any dependant children on your single parent or family policy^*.

Ready to get started?

Whether you’d like to upgrade your level of cover or want to understand more about your existing policy, we’re always here to help. Call us on 133 423, request a call back or visit your nearest branch.