FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION

Is there HBF Hospital cover with no waiting period?

All HBF Hospital covers have waiting periods to prevent 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.

Pre-existing conditions: 12 months
Pregnancy and birth: 12 months
Other in-hospital treatments: 2 months