HOSPITAL BASIC PLUS
- Joint reconstructions, gynaecology, hernia, appendix and more
- Ambulance cover in emergencies
- No excess for accident-related treatment
- It may help you pay less at tax time
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Compare & Switch
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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.
- Compare health insurance
- Switch health insurance to HCF
- Get a quote
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Health
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Health
Discover the benefits of private health insurance for you and your family, including comprehensive health support and how to find a provider near you.
- Why health insurance
- Find health insurance cover
- Corporate health search
- Find a provider
- Health programs
- Get a quote Find out more
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Overseas Visitors
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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).
- Get a quote Find out more
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Life
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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.
- Find out more
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Travel
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Travel
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.
- Find out more
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Pet, Home & Car
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Pet, Home & Car
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.
- Pet
- Home & Contents
- Landlord
- Car
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Flip
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Flip
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.
- Flip insurance
- Get cover now
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About HCF
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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.
- Member care
- Loyalty program
- Get help
- Our partners
- Research Foundation
- Sustainability
- Our benefits
- Get a quote
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WHY CHOOSE HOSPITAL BASIC PLUS?
If you're young and healthy, you shouldn't have to pay for services you don’t need. That’s where Hospital Basic Plus comes in. You’ll be covered for things like emergency ambulance and getting your appendix out, but not pregnancy or cataracts.
Here's what Hospital Basic Plus includes:
A choice of excess: $500 or $750
No excess for accident-related treatment
Joint reconstructions, gynaecology, hernia, appendix and more
Ambulance cover in emergencies
Involuntary unemployment assistance
JUST THE BASICS, PLUS A LITTLE BIT MORE
Get affordable cover for a range of standard hospital services, plus extra support to help you get the care you need when it matters most.
ACCIDENT SAFEGUARD
Receive the benefits of our top level of hospital cover for 90 days if you’re in an accident*.
TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION
If you need to travel for your treatment, you may be eligible to claim travel and accommodation costs for return trips of more than 200km^.
INVOLUNTARY UNEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
We’ll cover the cost of your health cover for up to 6 months if you find yourself unexpectedly unemployed+.
GET AFFORDABLE HOSPITAL COVER TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS
Join Hospital Basic Plus and you’ll be covered for:
emergency ambulance (depending on your state or territory)
eye (not cataracts)#
tonsils, adenoids and grommets
joint reconstructions
hernia and appendix
gastrointestinal endoscopy
gynaecology (including endometriosis and polycystic ovaries)
male reproductive system (including prostate cancer)#
miscarriage and termination of pregnancy
dental surgery.
To learn more about what’s included and what’s not included, head to the product summary.
WHY CHOOSE HCF
We're Australia's largest not-for-profit health fund, trusted by over 2 million members.
WE PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MEMBERS ARE
WE PUT OUR MONEY WHERE OUR MEMBERS ARE
MOST CANSTAR AWARDED HEALTH FUND
We've won more Canstar Health Insurance Awards than any other insurer in 2024^^, including the 2024 Outstanding Value Health Insurance Award, which we've won 9 years in a row.
HOLISTIC HEALTH SUPPORT
Access a range of health programs like mental health support, weight management, sleep and online GP services.
HCF THANK YOU REWARDS
Enjoy exclusive member benefits and discounts when you join HCF++. Save on everyday essentials like e-gift cards for groceries and fuel.
LOOKING FOR EXTRAS COVER TOO?
Check out Flex My Extras. It’s basic extras cover for singles and couples that helps you get more back on the extras you’ll actually use.
Learn more about Flex My Extras
EASILY SWITCH TO HCF
If you’re looking to switch your health insurance for more back and great benefits, choose the health fund that genuinely wants you to get better value from your health cover.
STEP 1
Choose the cover that works for you
STEP 2
Complete your quote and application
STEP 3
We’ll do the rest, including contacting your current provider
FAQS
Who is Hospital Basic Plus for?
Hospital Basic Plus has been designed for young and healthy singles, couples and families who are only after a basic level of hospital cover. Hospital Basic Plus can help you avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge at tax time if your income is above the current threshold, and avoid a Lifetime Health Cover loading, which may apply if you take out hospital cover after you turn 31. If you need a higher level of cover, explore more hospital cover options.
Can I combine Hospital Basic Plus with extras cover?
You sure can. By combining hospital cover with extras cover, you’ll be covered for hospital visits as well as day-to-day health services like dental, optical and physio. Explore our range of extras cover.
Are there any waiting periods?
If you’re new to health insurance, or your previous health insurance didn’t cover a particular service, you may need to wait before you can claim. Waiting periods vary depending on the service – head to the product summary to learn more.
What’s an excess?
An excess is a non-refundable amount of money you agree to pay towards the cost of your hospital treatment before we pay benefits to you. When you take out hospital cover, you'll select an excess amount. Your choice of excess will affect the cost of your premiums. The higher your excess is, the lower your premiums will be. With Hospital Basic Plus, you can adjust your premium amount by choosing an excess of $500 or $750.
Can hospital cover help me pay less tax?
Most Australian taxpayers contribute to the public health system through an annual payment (known as the Medicare Levy), which is currently 2% of taxable income. The Medicare Levy Surcharge is an additional tax on top of the Medicare Levy for Australian taxpayers who are high-income earners and don’t have private hospital cover. If your income is above the income thresholds and you're required to pay the Medicare Levy Surcharge, you could avoid paying the surcharge if you take out hospital cover with an Australian registered health fund.
Why do I need hospital cover?
Private hospital cover helps reduce the costs associated with treatment in hospital (like doctors' fees, accommodation, operating theatre, intensive care and pharmaceuticals in hospital). Having private hospital cover and treatment in a private hospital may also allow you to choose your own doctor and have more control over when you have treatment for elective surgery.
By having hospital cover, you could also avoid the Medicare Levy Surcharge at tax time if your income is above the current threshold. Plus, if you take out hospital cover before the age of 31, you could also avoid the Lifetime Health Cover loading, which means you pay lower premiums for your health insurance.
Reduce unexpected hospital costs
The best ways to lower any out-of-pocket expenses for your hospital treatment.
How hospital cover can help at tax time
You may be able to avoid paying the Medicare Levy Surcharge by signing up to hospital cover.
Are you nearly 31? You need to read this
If you take out hospital cover before your 31st birthday, you won't have to pay a loading, meaning you’ll enjoy lower premiums.
How income affects private health cover
Find out how the government rebate works, and if you’re eligible to save on your premium.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
* Must visit the emergency department within 24 hours of the accident. Other conditions apply. See hcf.com.au/accident-safeguard
^ When you travel at least a 200km round trip. Terms and conditions apply. See hcf.com.au/travel-accommodation
+ For up to 6 months. Must have held HCF hospital cover for at least 12 months. Other eligibility criteria apply. See hcf.com.au/unemployment-assistance
# Not included in Corporate Basic Plus.
** For every dollar our members paid in premiums over the last 10 years, we paid out 89.2% in benefits compared to the industry average of 85.6%. Calculated based on the average of the past 10 years, sourced from APRA Statistics: Private Health Insurance Operations Reports 2014-23.
^^ Outstanding Value Health Insurance Award 9 years in a row (2016-24). Winner of the 2024 Hospital Insurance Award in WA, SA and Qld and Hospital and Extras Insurance Award in Tas, Vic and WA.
++ Available after you’ve been a member for a week and all policy payments are up to date. Excludes Ambulance Only and Overseas Visitors Health Cover.
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