11 ways HCF is looking out for you and your family

Published April 2025 | 5 min read
Words by Lucy E Cousins

From having tonsils taken out to getting braces, looking after your child’s health can be expensive, but with HCF family cover you could save time and money.

Whether you’re making appointments for vaccinations or putting Band-Aids on grazed knees, looking after your children’s health can take up a lot of time and money. Choosing the right health cover can be the smartest decision you make for the wellbeing of your family. HCF family cover can offer support for your unique healthcare needs, making your job as parents a little easier.

11 ways we’re looking out for your family

HCF family cover can help with private hospital visits for things like ear, nose and throat treatment, tonsil removal surgery and respiratory problems. As members you can also get access to a range of health and wellbeing support for you and your family when you need it most. Access to the programs and services below will depend on your level of cover.

1. Save money when the unexpected happens

HCF family cover has been designed to help protect your family’s health now and in the future. That’s why you can add kids for free^* to your family cover. Plus, you’ll pay no hospital excess^{^} for kids, no matter how many times they go to hospital.

2. Access expert-led advice for new parents

If you’re looking to expand your family, our range of prenatal and postnatal services can help make the transition to parenthood easier. Online prenatal birth classes from Birth Beat can be taken in the comfort of your own home, while eligible members can also claim breastfeeding consultations from a lactation specialist.

3. Help your children with their speech

Not sure where to turn with your little one’s speech development? With HCF family extras cover, eligible members may be able to claim for speech pathology visits or telehealth consultations – log in to online member services or call us on 13 13 34 to check your cover.

4. We look after your own aches and pains

Often parents’ needs tend to take a back seat because they spend so much time thinking about their children’s health. But if you’ve got aching joints or a sore back – perhaps from carrying your child around or sitting all day at work – HCF’s More for You program may be able to help. Eligible members⁺ can get their first visit to an osteo, physio and chiro covered with no gap to pay. You may be able to claim 100% back⁺ on your first visit to a podiatrist, too.

5. Help your child manage big feelings

Growing up is full of challenges and learning experiences for our children, and often parents can forget how many big feelings our kids have each day. To help, HCF provides a range of mental health support tools, including Calm Kid Central^#, an online support program for eligible parents and kids aged four to 11, and This Way Up^**, which offers 18 clinically proven treatment programs using cognitive behavioural therapy.

Children aged 12 to 17 and parents who may need support can access HCF’s HealthyMinds Check-in^{^^} – a one-on-one online chat with a specialised PSYCH2U psychologist who can offer practical feedback on how to support your mental health.

6. Protect their teeth

Do your kids need mouthguards to play sport? With our No-Gap network of providers, you can get 100% back⁺ on up to two dental check-ups a year including a mouthguard fitting. By using our Find a Provider tool, you can find an HCF Dental Centre or More for Teeth provider near you.

7. Reduce the meal-time mental load

Creating a delicious, healthy meal the whole family will eat every night can become challenging. Eligible members can explore the easy-to-make, healthy recipes from the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet⁺⁺ – and for family-specific nutrition advice, recipes and more, Healthy Families for Life^## is a good resource.

8. Learn to sleep better, every night

Research shows new parents’ sleep habits remain disturbed for up to six years after the birth of their first child. However, when the kids start to sleep better, you may need some help to reset your sleep habits. Eligible members can access sleep support, including sleep studies and a free 12-month subscription to Sleepfit Solutions^*** – an app that can help you identify sleep issues and recommend ways to improve your sleep health.

9. Save on swimming lessons

Australia is surrounded by water, so learning to swim is an essential skill for children and adults alike. To help with the costs involved, eligible members may be able to claim for swimming lessons with a Health Management Plan from their doctor, run by centres that are members of the Australian Swim Schools Association, AUSTSWIM (gold and silver level) or SWIM™ Australia. It’s never too early – or too late – to learn.

10. Access expert advice from your living room

Finding time to visit a GP can be difficult for some families. To make life a little easier, HCF has partnered with GP2U to offer eligible members access to discounted telehealth consultations you can do from anywhere^{^^^}. While you’re online, check out our educational family content hub for expert-led, evidence-backed parenting advice, and listen to our Navigating Parenting podcast. The HCF Healthful⁺⁺⁺ app can also help parents track and manage their own health and wellbeing, with a personalised Health Score and a 24/7 digital coach.

11. Save even more on everyday essentials

As Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund, we’re always looking for ways to help our members save more. Through HCF Thank You, members can access a range of exclusive offers, discounted e-Gift cards^### (including Coles, Woolworths, Apple and more) and benefits designed to thank you for choosing and staying with us. You can save an average of $900^~ a year through discounts on everyday essentials like e-Gift cards for groceries, fuel and entertainment.

Make your cover work for your family

If you’re thinking of switching to HCF family cover, we’ve made it easy. Switching your cover is uncomplicated and can take less than 15 minutes. We can help you understand your current cover and how it stacks up against HCF family cover – and answer any questions you have around pre-existing conditions or waiting periods. To check your cover is right for you, call us on 13 13 34 or visit a branch.