COVID-19 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
If you have any questions or concerns about healthcare support and COVID-19, please call our 24/7 Helpline on 13 68 42 and press 2. Remember to have your membership card ready. Our friendly experts can cater to many different languages and are ready to connect you with the right services in our network, including counselling.
- Do HCF’s Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) products include the care I might need during COVID-19?
- Can I make a telehealth appointment with a GP if I have COVID-19 symptoms?
- Does my OVHC policy cover me if I need to be tested for COVID-19?
- Where should I go to be tested for COVID-19?
- Does my OVHC policy cover me for COVID-19 vaccines?
- What if I come from a country which has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia (RHCA)?
- What if I need to visit an Emergency Department?
- I’m being admitted to hospital for COVID-19. What do I need to know?
- Do normal waiting periods and pre-existing conditions apply?
Do HCF’s Overseas Visitor Health Cover (OVHC) products include the care I might need during COVID-19?
During the COVID-19 pandemic we’re here to support you. We want you to feel confident about your cover so you know what you can claim. For more details, call 13 68 42 and press 1, download a guide to your cover, read the OVHC Fund Rules or log in to view your product summary.
Remember, before any hospital admission or health appointment call our 24/7 helpline on 13 68 42 and press 2 so our team can connect you with a service in our network where you can access the right care with lower costs.
Can I make a telehealth appointment with a GP if I have COVID-19 symptoms?
If you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, you can access medical advice from the comfort of your home with telehealth video or phone consults until at least 31 December 2022, depending on your level of cover. To book, call our 24/7 helpline on 13 68 42 and press 2. Remember to have your membership card ready.
Does my OVHC policy cover me if I need to be tested for COVID-19?
If you hold an OVHC policy and you need a COVID-19 test, you can go to any Australian Government supported testing site and be tested free of charge (charges may apply for COVID-19 testing related to travel clearance).
If you have any questions call our 24/7 helpline first on 13 68 42 and press 2 so we can guide you.
Where should I go to be tested for COVID-19?
It’s good to know there are many places you can go if you need a COVID-19 test. Please visit the following national, State and Territory websites for the most up-to-date information but remember to call our 24/7 helpline first on 13 68 42 and press 2 so we can guide you.
Does my OVHC policy cover me for COVID-19 vaccines?
The Australian Government's Department of Health has announced that COVID-19 vaccines will be made free for everyone in Australia. This includes individuals who are not eligible for Medicare.
People who are not eligible for Medicare will be unable to receive the vaccine through a general practice clinic. These people can receive the vaccine from a GP-led Respiratory Clinic (GPRC) or a state/territory vaccination clinic once operational.
Note: You will not need a prescription from a GP to get vaccinated.
For more detail, visit the Australian Government guide on how to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
What if I come from a country which has a Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with Australia (RHCA)?
The Australian government has signed RHCA’s with 11 countries. These are: Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Slovenia, Sweden and the United Kingdom.
If you’re covered by an RHCA, you’ll have access to some Medicare services when you’re in Australia, but it’s important to know that Medicare doesn’t cover all health services (such as treatment in a private hospital or as a private patient, ambulance, and dental treatment). That’s why your OVHC policy offers peace of mind.
Remember, you’ll need to enrol in Medicare to get services and payments. Benefits may vary from country to country. Read more about your country’s RHCA with Australia.
What if I need to visit an Emergency Department?
Going to an emergency department from our HCF network can help you avoid extra costs for treatment or services covered under your OVHC policy. Please contact our 24/7 Helpline before you go on 13 68 42 and press 2 so we can guide you to the right healthcare services you need, whenever and wherever and keep your costs down.
I’m being admitted to hospital for COVID-19. What do I need to know?
As always, before any hospital admission or health appointment, call our 24/7 helpline on 13 68 42 then press 2 so we can guide you to a hospital in our network. Remember to have your membership card ready.
We’re here to support you during this time and help you understand Australia’s great healthcare system, how to use it and save you money on treatment and services included in your cover. You might have to pay significant out-of-pocket costs if you go directly to any hospital including a public hospital under some covers.
Do normal waiting periods and pre-existing conditions apply?
Yes. There are no changes to our waiting periods or how pre-existing conditions work and we’re reviewing and processing all our claims as usual.
Find out more about waiting periods, using your cover and how to claim.