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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.
Discover the benefits of private health insurance for you and your family, including comprehensive health support and how to find a provider near you.
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).
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.
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.
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.
Flip helps you to embrace life's moments with simple, affordable insurance and easy access to preventative dental care.
Learn more about Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund, how we reward our members, HCF benefits, partnerships, research initiatives and more.
This product summary only applies to cover taken out after 21 July 2025.
Please read:
Top Plus summary
All clinical categories when admitted to hospital where a benefit would be payable under the Australian Government Medicare system (except for Excluded Services shown below). The following list doesn't include everything - see Overseas Visitors Health Cover Fund Rules for complete information on your cover.
No waiting period unless Pre-existing conditions^ (which is 12 months) or stated otherwise.
Emergency ambulance services*
No waiting period
Rehabilitation
2 months
Palliative care
2 months
Hospital psychiatric services
2 months
Pregnancy and birth
12 months
Assisted reproductive services - e.g. IVF
12 months
Weight loss surgery
No waiting period unless pre-existing condition^ (which is 12 months) or stated otherwise
Emergency department facility fees
No waiting period
Medical repatriation and funeral expenses
Same waiting period that applies to the related hospital or medical condition
Podiatric surgery (provided by a registered podiatric surgeon)
No waiting period unless pre-existing condition^ (which is 12 months) or started otherwise
Elective cosmetic surgery
Covered
(Included Service). Significant out-of-pocket costs may apply if you attend a non-participating private hospital for these services. Depending on the treatment and length of stay, it could be up to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Not covered
(Excluded Services) These services are not included in your cover. No benefits are payable for any treatment related to these services. Always check with us if you're covered before going to hospital.
Depending on how each of your doctors (including surgeons and anaesthetists) decide to bill you when you're admitted to hospital we'll cover you for up to 100% of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee. If your doctor participates in HCF's No Gap or Known Gap arrangement, you'll either have nothing to pay or a limited 'gap' to pay. For more information see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) at hcf.com.au/health-insurance/overseas-visitors.
For PBS Medicines that are charged by the non-participating hospital or the public hospital to the member, the benefit payable will be 100% of the PBS listed price for that Medicine minus the current PBS general patient co-payment. The PBS patient co-payment fee is an out-of-pocket cost you're required to pay towards the cost of PBS medicine before we'll calculate your benefit. The patient co-payment fee is determined by the Department of Health and Aged Care and is subject to change.
If you are admitted to a participating private hospital, you won’t have to pay the PBS patient co-payment fee.
When you're admitted to hospital, the type of benefits we may pay includes:
The level of benefits we pay will depend on whether you go to a hospital in the HCF private hospital network.
Public hospital admissions for included services
If you receive treatment as a private patient in a public hospital for services included in your level of cover, the benefits payable are at the Gazetted Rate, which is determined by a state or territory health authority. These benefits are higher than Minimum Benefits but if the hospital charges more than the Gazetted Rate, you'll have an out-of-pocket cost.
Participating private hospital admissions for included services
If you receive treatment at a participating private hospital for services included in your level of cover, the benefits payable are specified in the hospital contract with that hospital.
Non-participating private hospital admissions for included services
If you receive treatment at a non-participating private hospital for services included in your level of cover, the benefits payable are only Minimum Benefits. Minimum Benefits are low level benefits. In some instances, the out-of-pocket costs could be significant, and depending on the treatment and length of stay, it could be up to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
No matter which type of hospital you go to, you may need to pay medical out-of-pocket costs for doctors' fees, pathology and X-rays. Call our 24/7 helpline on 13 68 42, then press 2, so we can help guide you to a hospital and doctor in our network.
You'll be covered and pay $0 for emergency department fees including administration fees if the visit leads to an admission (and a charge is raised by the hospital).
If you're not admitted, we'll pay up to $200 per visit.
Note: In hospital outpatient clinics (not emergency departments) benefits are only payable for medical fees where the service would be eligible for an MBS benefit if provided to an Australian resident. No other fees or charges are payable for outpatient clinics.
You're covered for doctors' services for items listed on the Australian Government Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and where the service would be eligible for an MBS benefit if provided to an Australian resident:
If the provider charges above the MBS fee, you will need to pay an out-of-pocket cost.
You're covered for medicines listed on the Australian Government approved pharmacy list (PBS):
Emergency transportation to the nearest hospital able to provide the treatment required, from any location except a medical facility, including on-the-spot treatment and emergency transfers between hospitals but only when the original hospital does not have the required clinical facilities.
Extras are services that you claim out-of-hospital such as dental, optical, acupuncture and physiotherapy.
Get 100% back on popular extras
You can get 100% back at extras providers in our network, up to your annual limits. Including:
Plus a range of other services. For other services, there are set benefits which vary according to your cover.
Providers not available in all areas. To find a provider close to you, visit hcf.com.au/health-insurance/overseas-visitors
Per person per calendar year (unless otherwise stated)
Dental
Preventive and diagnostic
2 months
2 months
Maximum 2 check-ups, 2 scale and cleans, 1 fluoride treatment per person, per year.
Direct fillings and simple extractions
2 months
2 months
$1,200 combined limit (with orthodontics and major dental).
Major dental services including indirect fillings, surgical extractions, periodontics, endodontics, crowns, bridges and dentures
12 months
12 months
$1,200 combined (with direct fillings, simple extractions and orthodontics). Denture limits renew every 3 years, from date of previous services
Orthodontics
12 months
12 months
$1,200 combined limit (with direct fillings, simple extractions and major dental). Orthodontics lifetime limit of $2,400 for services by orthodontists and a sub-limit of $1,200 for orthodontic services provided by other dentists.
Optical
Glasses, frames, lenses and contact lenses
2 months
2 months
$250
Eye test
2 months
2 months
1 eye test every 3 years (on top of optical limit)
Therapies
Physiotherapy and exercise physiology (excludes group and/or classes)
2 months
2 months
$600
Chiropractic and osteopathy
2 months
2 months
$500 per person,
$1,000 per policy
Podiatry and dietetics
2 months
2 months
$250 ($150 sub-limit for orthotics)
Orthotics
12 months
12 months
$150 (combined with podiatry and dietetics limit)
Psychology
2 months
2 months
$400 per person,
$800 per policy
Natural therapies
Consults only for acupuncture (herbs not covered), Chinese herbal medicine (herbs not covered), remedial massage and myotherapy
2 months
2 months
$450 ($250 sub limit per therapy)
Excess
An excess is a non-refundable amount of money you agree to pay when you go to hospital. The excess amount you choose affects the cost of your premium. A higher excess will lower the cost and a lower excess will raise the cost.
For Top Plus you can choose a $0, $500 or $750 excess per person per calendar year when hospitalised. The excess amount will only apply to a maximum of 2 people on family policies per calendar year.
Waiting period
A waiting period is the time you need to wait before a benefit becomes available to you. You'll be covered immediately for all in-hospital and out-of-hospital services included in your cover except for the following where you'll need to wait:
Hospital
Medical in and out-of-hospital
Other
HCF doesn't cover these extras for Top Plus cover:
^ A pre-existing condition means an ailment, illness or condition, the signs or symptoms of which in the opinion of a Medical Practitioner appointed by HCF, existed in the period of 6 months ending on the day on which the Policyholder is covered for Hospital Benefits or upgrades to a higher Product or Insured Group. The test applied relies on the presence of signs or symptoms of the illness, ailment or condition; not on a diagnosis.
* Excludes emergency ambulance transport from a medical facility or a hospital except for emergency inter-hospital transfers where the original admitting hospital doesn't have the required clinical facilities.
+ This doesn't include costs for medical examinations, X-rays, vaccinations or any treatment required for obtaining a visa to enter Australia, change in visa or application for permanent residency or examination for pre-employment purposes.
** A first visit means an initial consultation for an eligible health condition that is new or flare up where no treatment has been provided in the last 3 months.
Before buying Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC), please read the Product Summary to understand the inclusions, exclusions, waiting periods and all limits that may apply.
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The Hospitals Contribution Fund of Australia Ltd. ABN 68 000 026 746 AFSL 241 414
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