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Compare & Switch 
- - Compare & Switch 
  - Looking to compare, take out private health insurance or make the switch to HCF? Find the right cover for your needs and we’ll take care of the rest.
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  - Discover the benefits of private health insurance for you and your family, including comprehensive health support and how to find a provider near you.
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- - Overseas Visitors Health Insurance (OVHC)
  - Whether you’re here for work or visiting Australia, get access to the health care services you may need with Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC).
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Life
- - HCF Life and Recover Cover
  - Count on HCF Life & Recover Cover to stand by you during life’s unexpected challenges and reduce the financial stress on your family’s future.
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  - Prepare for the unexpected with HCF Travel Insurance. Designed to provide cover for delayed luggage, overseas medical emergencies and more for singles, duos and families.
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  - From furry friends to your home and the four wheels guiding you back to your loved ones, find pet insurance, as well as home and car cover options.
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  - Flip is the flexible, great value accident cover made for active lifestyles. Whether you’re chasing waves or at the gym, get cover when you need it.
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- - About HCF
  - Learn more about Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund, how we reward our members, HCF benefits, partnerships, research initiatives and more.
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What happens after I join HCF? 

Once you’ve joined HCF you’ll receive a welcome letter either in the post within 5 to 10 business days or via email within a day. 

Your welcome letter includes: 

your cover overview and product summary
who’s covered on your policy 
your payment details 
a link to our HCF member guide with a range of important information, including switching from another fund.

Switching from a different fund

Once you’ve completed your HCF application form, including the Interfund Transfer section, we’ll do the rest. That includes liaising with your previous fund to terminate your old policy, so you don’t have to. You'll have full continuity of cover, so if you need to visit a private hospital for something you were covered for with your previous fund, you'll be able to get the same level of benefits.

Once we have the details of your previous health insurer, we’ll ask them to send us a Clearance Certificate. This can take up to 14 days.

See How to switch your health insurance to HCF.  

Waiting periods

You may have waiting periods when you join a new policy. This depends on whether you’ve already served them on your previous policy.

Waiting periods may apply if: 

you’re a new member

you rejoin after having a break in private health cover

you’re an existing member and upgrade to a higher policy

you reduce your excess.

If you've already served your waiting period with your previous fund, you generally won’t have to re-serve any waiting periods for benefits you were previously covered for.

See Private health insurance waiting periods.

What’s my premium based on? 

Your premium amount is based on: 

your selected product

your selected scale (single, couple, family, extended family or single parent)

the state or territory you live in

your Australian Government Rebate (Rebate) percentage

your Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading

any other discounts (e.g. if you’ve joined through your employer).

Why is my first direct debit payment different to my quoted premium?

Your first direct debit can differ from your quoted premium because of the LHC loading, Rebate tiers, rate changes or your level of cover.  

 Your membership commences at 12am on your join date. Your first direct debit covers your chosen frequency (weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or yearly) and any additional days if you’ve chosen a direct debit date after your join date.  

Your first direct debit may also include an additional 1-day premium, which is a one-off charge on top of your first payment. This is to ensure that your direct debit date is also covered for on-the-spot claiming. 

See Claims and Payments: Direct Debit.

What’s the private health insurance Australian Government Rebate?

You may be eligible to receive the Australian Government Rebate (Rebate) to help with the cost of your premium.

The Rebate was put in place to encourage Aussies to get health insurance and keep the cost of health cover down. The Rebate amount is calculated based on your income, age and family status.

See The Government Rebate.

What's Lifetime Health Cover Loading?

Lifetime Health Cover (LHC) loading is a government initiative created to encourage Aussies to take out and maintain private hospital cover earlier and ease the load on the public healthcare system.

If you take out hospital cover with a registered Australian health fund by 1 July following your 31^st birthday, you won't need to pay the LHC loading. For each year you wait to take out hospital cover after the age of 31, you’ll pay an extra 2% for your cover for each year you waited. The maximum LHC loading is 70%. If you then maintain hospital cover for 10 years, the loading will be removed.

See Lifetime Health Cover.

If you’re switching from another Australian registered health fund to HCF, we’ll ask your previous fund to send us a Clearance Certificate. It’ll confirm which services you were covered for and your current LHC loading.

Your LHC loading history is carried over from any previous funds you’ve been with and will be on your Clearance Certificate.

See How to switch your health insurance to HCF.

If you’re a new migrant to Australia, aged 31 or over, eligible for Medicare, and have taken up hospital cover within 1 year of registering for Medicare, you may not need to pay LHC loading. However, you'll need to provide HCF with a Lifetime Health Cover letter from Medicare. Call Medicare on 132 011 to request the letter.

See Lifetime Health Cover loading.

If you’re an Australian citizen or permanent resident who was overseas on 1 July following your 31^st birthday, you won’t pay LHC loading if you take out hospital cover by the first anniversary of the day you return to Australia.

We’ll need additional documents to confirm your eligibility, such as:

international movement records

a transfer certificate from any fund you may have been with prior to joining HCF.

See Lifetime Health Cover.

What happens to LHC loading if I’m switching from another fund?

Your LHC loading history is carried over from any previous funds you’ve been with and will be on your Clearance Certificate.

See How to switch your health insurance to HCF.

What happens to LHC loading if I’m a new migrant?

See Lifetime Health Cover loading.

What happens to LHC loading if I was overseas when I turned 31?

We’ll need additional documents to confirm your eligibility, such as:

international movement records

a transfer certificate from any fund you may have been with prior to joining HCF.

See Lifetime Health Cover.

HCF app and online member services

With HCF’s My Membership app and online member services, you can manage your account, make a claim, make a payment, check your remaining limits, and more.

Primary policyholders can access the HCF app and online member services within 48 hours of joining.

You only need to register once on either the HCF app or online member services. You’ll need your HCF membership number and a valid email address.

You can download the app from the App Store or Google Play.

If you need help installing the app, see our HCF app how-to guides or contact us.

Membership cards

We’ll issue physical membership cards for all members on the policy to the primary policyholder, including the partner and any dependents over the age of 18. You can use your membership card as soon as you receive it.

For any dependents under 18, we’ll issue a single membership card to the primary policyholder.

Primary policyholders can also access their digital membership card through the My Membership app.

When will I receive my physical membership card?

We’ll send you your HCF membership card(s) 1 to 2 days after you’ve made your first payment. If your first payment lands on a public holiday, we’ll send it on the next available business day. Once we’ve posted your card, you should receive it within 10 to 14 business days, depending on Australia Post.

If you haven’t received your membership card within 14 business days of your first payment, please contact us.

Alternatively, primary policyholders can access the digital membership card through the My Membership app.

How do I access my digital membership card?

When you sign up for a new health policy with HCF, primary policyholders will be able to access the digital membership card within 2 business days.

You can find your digital membership card in the My Membership app. Just look for the phone icon in the top right corner. It’ll be automatically updated to reflect the current expiry date.

HCF’s digital card is available to primary policyholders, provided your payments are up to date, with a supported Apple or Android mobile device. Other members on the policy will need to continue using their physical cards.

See HCF digital membership card.

How can I get help with my cover?

If you need help with your policy or have any questions, chat with us, call us on 13 13 34 or visit us at a branch near you.

We may call you between 2 and 30 days after you’ve joined to welcome you to HCF. We’ll check things like:

who’s covered on your policy
your contact details
any questions or concerns.

On day 21 of your membership, you’ll receive an email or letter from us including:

tools to assist you if you’re planning a hospital stay
our HCF More For You programs
our other insurance products.

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Private health insurance that’s right for you

No matter what stage of life you’re at, your health cover should work for you. That’s why we put you in control with a range of options for peace of mind.

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Singles

Whether it’s for everyday health services, peace of mind or to save at tax time, find singles cover for your lifestyle.

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Couples

Outstanding cover for you and your partner so you can focus on what matters most and live the life you want together.

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Families

From single to 2-parent homes, families with 2 mums or 2 dads, kids or adult-dependants, find cover for every family.

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Life

With HCF Life^* insurance, you can protect your family’s future when you’re not around or get support when you’re unable to work.

Learn more

Looking for something else?

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, our team are ready to help and guide you in the right direction.

Call us

Get in touch with our team between Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm (AEST/AEDT) or on Saturday, 9am to 5pm (AEST/AEDT).

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Report a fraud or scam

If you’ve received something and are unsure if it’s a message from us, get in touch with our team or report it as suspicious to Scamwatch.

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Important Information

^* Our Life and Recover Cover products are issued by our own HCF Life insurance Company Pty Ltd. ABN 37 001 831 250. AFSL 236 806 (HCF Life). HCF Life is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hospitals Contribution Fund of Australia Limited ABN 68 000 026 746, AFSL 241414 (HCF). Terms and conditions apply. Please read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement, Policy Document and Financial Services Guide available by calling 1800 560 855 or visiting hcf.com.au/lifeinfo, and consider your financial situation, objectives, and needs before deciding on these products as any advice provided does not take these into account. In addition to these documents, you should also read the Target Market Determination (TMD) for the product, which is available at hcf.com.au/lifeinfo. The premiums for Recover Cover products are paid to HCF Life. HCF receives commission from HCF Life for their sale of up to 40% of the first year’s premium plus an additional commission of 80% of HCF Life’s underwriting profit each year calculated as premiums less claims and expenses. HCF’s staff may receive an incentive depending on the annual premium of these products which they sell. This will not exceed 15% of the first year’s premium.

Compare & Switch

Health

Overseas Visitors Health Insurance (OVHC)

HCF Life and Recover Cover

Travel

Pet, Home & Car

Flip

About HCF

Next steps after joining HCF

What happens after I join HCF?

What’s my premium based on?

What’s the private health insurance Australian Government Rebate?

What's Lifetime Health Cover Loading?

HCF app and online member services

Membership cards

How can I get help with my cover?