How we can help

With HBF, you can reduce your out-of-pocket costs by taking advantage of our large network of HBF Member Plus providers and our 80 years’ experience in the health industry.

We partner with a large network of HBF Member Plus hospitals across Australia, to help keep your out-of-pocket costs to a minimum.

With HBF Member Plus hospitals, you’ll be covered for accommodation and theatre fees for all agreed services on your policy, less any co-payment or policy excess.

Find an HBF Member Plus hospital

In addition to HBF Member Plus hospitals, we also have agreements with thousands of specialists.

Outside of Western Australia, HBF participates in the Australian Health Service Alliance (AHSA) Access Gap Cover (AGC) arrangement.

If your specialist participates in the AGC arrangement, they have the option to opt-in or opt-out of the arrangement on a case by case basis. They have the option of billing one of three ways:

Find an HBF Member Plus provider

Medical gap

You might have heard of the Medicare Benefit Schedule (MBS). This is a list of the medical procedures Medicare covers, as well as what they’ll pay towards treatment.

When you are admitted to hospital as a private patient, your specialist’s bills will be covered up to the MBS fee. Medicare will cover 75% of the MBS fee, while we will cover the remaining 25%. An out-of-pocket cost occurs when there is a difference between your specialist’s fees and the combined benefit provided by Medicare and HBF.

To help eliminate or reduce these out-of-pocket costs for you, HBF participates in the Australian Health Service Alliance (AHSA) Access Gap Cover (AGC) arrangement for all states outside of Western Australia.

If your specialist participates in the AGC arrangement, they have the option to opt-in or opt-out of the arrangement on a case by case basis. When your specialist chooses to opt-in to AGC they have the option of billing one of two ways:

 

Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee
Medical Gap

Access Gap Cover - No Gap

Access Gap Cover - Known Gap

No agreement / Opt-out

  1. Medicare pays

  2. HBF pays (MBS fee)

  3. HBF pays (Additional benefit)

  4. Member pays (Gap)

Please note: Even if you’re booked into an HBF Member Plus hospital, it doesn’t mean your specialist, anaesthetist, hospital or pharmacy fees will automatically be fully covered. Call us on 133 423 before you book to make sure you know what you’re covered for.

We know your cover inside out, so be sure to contact us before you book a hospital stay or significant medical treatment and we’ll do everything we can to help you reduce your out-of-pocket costs, and ensure you have all the information you need to make the best choice for you.

Don’t forget to ask for a quote from your specialist and discuss how they can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs, too.

Explore our Help Centre

heartbeat

Health insurance explained

Gold, Silver, Bronze and Basic cover explained, what is an excess and more.

avatar

Managing an existing policy

Make changes to your policy, order a member card and more.

claims

Claims

When you can start claiming, telehealth and more.