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Make A Claim On Your OVHC

Everything you need to know about making a claim with your Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC).

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How to claim on your OVHC
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Claim On The Spot At Some Extras Providers

If your health cover includes extras (Top and Top Plus cover), you can use your membership card to claim on the spot at some extras providers. You may need to pay any additional costs (the gap) for your treatment at the time of service.

How To Claim On Your OVHC

We know claiming money back is an important part of your health cover. Here's how to make claiming easier on your OVHC.

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1. Ask for a receipt

Make sure your healthcare provider has included the MBS item number and/or a description of the service on the receipt.

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2. Complete your claim

Complete, sign and date the OVHC Claim Form. You’ll need to have your membership number ready.

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3. Submit your claim

Email your claim to ovhc_service@hcf.com.au, send it to us by post, or take it to your nearest HCF branch.

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Your OVHC claims checklist

  • Are you covered for the treatment or service? You can check what you’re covered for in online member services.
  • Have you served the relevant waiting period?
  • Is the healthcare provider recognised by HCF?
  • Is your cover start date before the date of the treatment or service?
  • Are your premium payments up to date?
  • Have you already had the treatment or service?
  • Are you submitting your claim within 2 years of receiving the treatment or service?

Submitting A Claim On Your OVHC

If you need help making a claim on your OVHC, call our 24/7 helpline on 13 68 42.

Doctors’ bills

Visiting a doctor (GP) or specialist

If you're covered for GP services and you visit a doctor or specialist, you’ll need to pay the fees upfront after your visit. To claim your money back, complete the OVHC Claim Form and send it to us with the receipt. You can:

What we'll pay

If you're covered for GP services and you’ve chosen a GP from the HCF network, we’ll pay 100% of the fees charged. If you see a GP outside of our network or any specialist, we’ll cover up to 100% of the MBS fee. This is unlikely to cover the full amount of the fees charged.

Processing your claim

Claims are usually processed and paid within 10 working days to your nominated bank account.

Hospital bills

Visiting a private hospital in the HCF network

If you're treated in a private hospital from the HCF network all bills should come straight to us from the hospital, so you won’t need to submit your own claim.

Visiting a private hospital outside the HCF network

If you're treated in a private hospital outside the HCF network, we may only pay a low level of benefits and you may have significant extra costs. In some instances, and depending on your cover, treatment and length of stay, the out-of-pocket costs could be up to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. You may have to pay all costs upfront and then make a claim with us.

If you've paid your hospital bill or it’s sent to you, you and the hospital need to complete and submit a National Private Patient Claim Form (HC21) (the hospital may do this on your behalf). If you have any questions, call our 24/7 helpline on 13 68 42.

Visiting a public hospital

If you're treated as a private patient in a public hospital for services included in your cover, the benefits we pay are determined by the state or territory health authority. You may have additional costs to pay.

Processing your claim

Claims are usually processed and paid within 30 working days to your nominated bank account.

After hospital treatment

Visiting a specialist in the HCF network

If you’ve chosen a specialist from the HCF network who is a Medicover no-gap or known-gap provider and you've been admitted to hospital, all bills should come straight to us from the doctor so you shouldn't need to submit your own claim. If you’re visiting a specialist and you haven't been admitted to hospital, you'll need to pay the specialist’s fee and submit your claim to us.

If you've been sent a bill

If you’ve already paid your specialist’s bill or it’s been sent to you, complete the OVHC Claim Form and send it to us with the receipt. You can:

Processing your claim

Claims are usually processed and paid within 10 working days to your nominated bank account.

 

Ambulance bills

Ambulance cover

All levels of HCF OVHC include the cost of emergency ambulance transport services* to the nearest hospital or for on-the-spot treatment (unless the ambulance service is covered by another arrangement).

If you've been sent a bill

If you’re sent a bill after you’ve used an ambulance, complete the OVHC Claim Form and send it to us with the receipt. You can:

Processing your claim

Claims are usually processed and paid within 10 working days to your nominated bank account.

Doctors’ bills

Visiting a doctor (GP) or specialist

If you're covered for GP services and you visit a doctor or specialist, you’ll need to pay the fees upfront after your visit. To claim your money back, complete the OVHC Claim Form and send it to us with the receipt. You can:

What we'll pay

If you're covered for GP services and you’ve chosen a GP from the HCF network, we’ll pay 100% of the fees charged. If you see a GP outside of our network or any specialist, we’ll cover up to 100% of the MBS fee. This is unlikely to cover the full amount of the fees charged.

Processing your claim

Claims are usually processed and paid within 10 working days to your nominated bank account.

Hospital bills

Visiting a private hospital in the HCF network

If you're treated in a private hospital from the HCF network all bills should come straight to us from the hospital, so you won’t need to submit your own claim.

Visiting a private hospital outside the HCF network

If you're treated in a private hospital outside the HCF network, we may only pay a low level of benefits and you may have significant extra costs. In some instances, and depending on your cover, treatment and length of stay, the out-of-pocket costs could be up to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. You may have to pay all costs upfront and then make a claim with us.

If you've paid your hospital bill or it’s sent to you, you and the hospital need to complete and submit a National Private Patient Claim Form (HC21) (the hospital may do this on your behalf). If you have any questions, call our 24/7 helpline on 13 68 42.

Visiting a public hospital

If you're treated as a private patient in a public hospital for services included in your cover, the benefits we pay are determined by the state or territory health authority. You may have additional costs to pay.

Processing your claim

Claims are usually processed and paid within 30 working days to your nominated bank account.

After hospital treatment

Visiting a specialist in the HCF network

If you’ve chosen a specialist from the HCF network who is a Medicover no-gap or known-gap provider and you've been admitted to hospital, all bills should come straight to us from the doctor so you shouldn't need to submit your own claim. If you’re visiting a specialist and you haven't been admitted to hospital, you'll need to pay the specialist’s fee and submit your claim to us.

If you've been sent a bill

If you’ve already paid your specialist’s bill or it’s been sent to you, complete the OVHC Claim Form and send it to us with the receipt. You can:

Processing your claim

Claims are usually processed and paid within 10 working days to your nominated bank account.

 

Ambulance bills

Ambulance cover

All levels of HCF OVHC include the cost of emergency ambulance transport services* to the nearest hospital or for on-the-spot treatment (unless the ambulance service is covered by another arrangement).

If you've been sent a bill

If you’re sent a bill after you’ve used an ambulance, complete the OVHC Claim Form and send it to us with the receipt. You can:

Processing your claim

Claims are usually processed and paid within 10 working days to your nominated bank account.

Need help?

Can’t find what you’re looking for?

We’re here to help. Our friendly team speaks many different languages.

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Membership enquiries

If you have questions about your cover, you can call our team Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm (AEST/AEDT).

13 68 42 (within Australia) 

+61 2 7230 5100 (outside Australia) 

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24/7 helpline

If you need help finding a doctor or hospital, or have questions about your health, call our 24/7 helpline.

13 68 42 – option 2 (within Australia)

+61 2 7230 5100 – option 2 (outside Australia)

In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).

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Visit us

Speak to our friendly health cover experts at your nearest HCF branch.

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Important Information

* Covers emergency ambulance transport to the nearest hospital from any location except from a medical facility or a hospital. Under visa-compliant cover, emergency ambulance transfer between hospitals will only be covered if it is necessary because the original admitting hospital does not have the required clinical facilities.

HCF acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands and water upon which we work and live. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rich history as traditional healers and scientists, who have taken care of the health of the land and its people for thousands of years. We give thanks to elders past and present, who we have much to learn from on our reconciliation journey. View our Reconciliation Action Plan