7 things you didn’t know about HCF health cover

Published September 2024 | 6 min read  
Words by Lucy E Cousins 

Did you know your health is our priority? That's why we offer a range of unique benefits for eligible members with hospital cover. From mental health support and treatment at home to a choice of excess, we've got you covered. 

Nearly 14 million Aussies (almost half of the population) have some form of private health cover, and while insurers are paying out more for benefits than ever before, most of us don’t fully understand the extent of what we can claim on our policies.

For over 90 years, HCF – Australia's largest not-for-profit health fund – has strived for transparency in healthcare. We understand for most of our members, the real value of health cover comes down to what HCF can offer, above and beyond your hospital stay.

Here are seven benefits that eligible HCF members can claim as part of their hospital health cover to help get on top of (and maintain) their health – today, tomorrow and into the future.

1. Hospital cover for accidents

Life is unpredictable, but luckily with HCF’s Accident Safeguard^*, eligible members can get the top level of hospital cover for up to 90 days if they’re in an accident. This means we’ll cover you for services in a participating private hospital that are normally excluded or only entitled to minimum benefits under your cover.

HCF doesn't pay for emergency department fees as this isn't covered under HCF's top level of cover.

You can be covered even if you’re sent home from the emergency department and then readmitted at a later date for the same injury. The readmission date has to be within 90 days.

2. We help reduce your out-of-pocket expenses

With the cost of living constantly rising, reducing hospital costs is a focus for most patients. That’s why HCF has created our No-Gap network, where we’ve partnered with medical specialists through our Medicover scheme around Australia. Just use the Find a Provider^{^} tool to locate a specialist near you who's more likely to charge no gap or a known gap when you’re admitted to hospital for treatment.

Before you receive treatment, you may also be able to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses by asking your doctors and the hospitals questions about the expected fees.

HCF also offers a range of excess options so you can choose how much you’ll pay if you claim on your hospital cover. By choosing a higher excess you’ll reduce your premium, whereas a lower excess means you pay more in premiums.

3. Your mental health is supported

With one in five Aussies having experienced a mental health disorder in the last 12 months, taking care of our minds is more important than ever. HCF offers eligible members access to a range of mental health programs that support the health of your mind. These include a free annual mental health check-in⁺ with a PSYCH2U psychologist, who can tailor your telehealth session to your needs.

For challenges like stress, sleeping issues, anxiety, depression and even chronic pain, a range of evidence-based online treatments can be accessed with This Way Up^#.

Children with big emotions can be supported with access to the online educational programs from Calm Kid Central^**. Designed for kids aged 4 to 11, these programs can encourage more positive behaviour, better social skills and a more resilient outlook.

4. Healthy habits are our focus

If you’re wanting to prioritise your health, or even just check in with a GP to create some healthy habits (without leaving the comfort of your home), HCF members with health cover can access a telehealth appointment (up to 10 minutes) with GP2U for just $50.

To help manage your weight, you may be able to claim for the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet, a dietitian-led HCF-approved weight management program^{^^}. For those living with osteoarthritis and with a BMI of 28 and higher, the Osteoarthritis Healthy Weight for Life⁺⁺ program is also available. And if you’re living with a heart condition or type 2 diabetes, you may be eligible for The COACH Program^®## – a four- to six-month, phone-based support program with an accredited health coach.

For support with sleep, eligible HCF members^*** can get free access to a 12 month subscription to the Sleepfit app designed to improve sleep and overall wellbeing.

5. You can access free preventative health screenings

With more than 56,000 Aussies experiencing a heart attack each year, heart checks are increasingly important. Thanks to our partnership with the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, eligible members can access a free heart health check^{^^^} at different times of the year. Check our website for available appointments.

6. Treatment at home is an option

Sometimes getting treated in hospital isn’t what’s best for you, so we’ve chosen to pay for some treatments you can have in the comfort of your own home where the treatment can be given safely, and at the same, or better, quality than in hospital⁺⁺⁺. We offer a range of treatment at home options for eligible members. These may include intravenous (IV) therapy antibiotics, complex wound care with negative pressure wound therapy, rehabilitation after a hip or knee replacement or IV chemotherapy.

These treatments are called hospital-substitute treatment (or HST), and we’ll work with your doctor and hospital to help cover the costs.

7. A second opinion is valued

If you're unsure or don’t agree with a diagnosis, eligible members can also access our Second Opinion^### service, where you can get a second opinion on your health situation from a medical specialist at no extra cost.

This consultation is confidential, can help you understand and validate your treatment plan and can offer you peace of mind so you can focus on your recovery.

Uncommon care is our bottom line

Caring makes you do uncommon things. It makes us do uncommon things too. Like putting people before profit. Why? Because we’re Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund. That means our members are at the heart of everything we do, and we put their health before anything else.