Health insurance explained

Extras insurance provides cover for everyday health care services that Medicare doesn't generally pay a benefit towards, such as visiting a dentist or physiotherapist.

HBF offers five levels of extras cover, ranging from basic to more comprehensive cover. What you can claim for, and what benefits are available to you, depends entirely on the cover option you choose.

Compare HBF extras covers

When you purchase extras cover for the first time or update your policy, you'll likely need to serve a waiting period. A waiting period is a set amount of time during which you can't claim benefits. Once your waiting periods have been served, you'll be able to claim on the services on your cover.

Once you’re ready to claim on a service covered by your policy, you can either claim on-the-spot at your provider via a participating terminal or submit your claim to HBF via the following methods:

• Submit your claim via the HBF App
• Submit your claim via myHBF
• Visit your nearest branch
• Return a claim form by mail

We'll review your claim and pay you any benefits you're entitled to.

How do Extras insurance policies work?

HBF has a range of extras cover products to suit all budgets. Private Health Insurance with extras cover helps cover some or all of the costs for everyday healthcare services including things like dental check-ups, physio appointments and glasses or contacts. The price of each product is based on the level of restrictions and exclusions on these eservices.

Compare all cover options

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. Extras insurance cover can be a good thing to have because Medicare generally doesn't cover extras services, so without extras cover you'd have to cover the full cost of treatment every time you receive a service.

If you wear glasses or contacts, or if you regularly pay for services such as the physio, chiro, dentist, remedial massage or similar, extras cover could help cover your costs.

Learn more about the value of extras insurance

Yes. With HBF, you can purchase extras cover on its own. 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.

This depends on what level of cover you want for your kids.

Depending on the state or territory you live in, your kids may be eligible for free general dental care. This will typically cover treatments such as check-ups, dental cleaning, fillings and x-rays.

While dental treatments like crowns, endodontic treatment or braces are generally not covered under these programs, we always recommend you first check what services are available from the dental programs near you. If your state or territory doesn't provide these services to kids for free, you may wish to purchase extras insurance to avoid having to fully cover these costs out of your own pocket.

To learn more about Government-funded kids dental care and what's covered by your state or territory's programs, visit the Department of Health's website.