Switch to HCF

Switch to HCF and discover why more than 2 million Australians trust the not-for-profit fund that paid more back in benefits to its members than the industry average*.

A man and a woman sit on a couch talking, and the man has an open laptop in his lap.

Why switch to HCF?

If you want more back, better service and great value, switch health insurance to the fund that genuinely puts its money where its members are.

Switching to HCF is easy

  1. Compare health insurance options and find the right cover for your needs.
  2. We’ll handle the paperwork and waive any waiting periods previously served.
  3. Start enjoying the benefits of being with Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund.

Switch to cover that’s right for you

If your health needs have changed or you’ve outgrown your previous health fund, we make it easy for you to switch to HCF with a range of options that work for you.

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Switching health insurance providers?

We've answered some common questions to help make switching private health insurance simple and stress-free.

If you’re switching from another health fund to HCF, you won’t need to re-serve any waiting periods for services if:

  • you’re switching to HCF on the same or lower level of benefits for those services
  • you’re switching within 30 days of leaving your previous health fund.

If you switch to a higher level of benefits or to a cover with new services, waiting periods of up to 12 months will apply to those services.

Learn more about waiting periods

Once you’ve found the right cover for you and told us about your previous health fund, we’ll contact them for you to handle the cancellation. As part of this, we’ll request your transfer certificate, which can take up to 14 days, so you can start claiming on services that you’re eligible for as soon as we receive it. If you've already served your waiting period with your previous fund, you won’t have to re-serve any waiting periods for benefits you were previously covered for, and all your remaining benefit limits will transfer across.

If you feel like your current health cover isn’t quite right for you anymore or your needs have changed, you can easily change to a higher level of cover. Keep in mind that if you’re upgrading to a higher level of cover, you’ll have to serve a waiting period before claiming on certain services. If you’re lowering your excess, a waiting period will apply before you can claim at your new excess rate. You can still claim for services previously covered, however you would need to pay the previous higher excess during that waiting period.

Switching from another health fund to HCF is easy and can be done any time. It’s important to be mindful of any waiting periods that may apply before switching, and any remaining limits on your extras services before you make the switch - as extras limits reset each calendar year.

When you join HCF, you’ll have a 30-day cooling off period because we want you to be happy with the health cover policy you’ve chosen. So, if you change your mind and cancel your HCF policy within 30 days of joining, you’ll receive your money back if you haven't made a claim in that period.

Find cover that’s right for you

If you’re switching from another health fund to HCF, you won’t need to re-serve any waiting periods for services if:

  • you’re switching to HCF on the same or lower level of benefits for those services
  • you’re switching within 30 days of leaving your previous health fund.

If you switch to a higher level of benefits or to a cover with new services, waiting periods of up to 12 months will apply to those services.

Learn more about waiting periods

Once you’ve found the right cover for you and told us about your previous health fund, we’ll contact them for you to handle the cancellation. As part of this, we’ll request your transfer certificate, which can take up to 14 days, so you can start claiming on services that you’re eligible for as soon as we receive it. If you've already served your waiting period with your previous fund, you won’t have to re-serve any waiting periods for benefits you were previously covered for, and all your remaining benefit limits will transfer across.

If you feel like your current health cover isn’t quite right for you anymore or your needs have changed, you can easily change to a higher level of cover. Keep in mind that if you’re upgrading to a higher level of cover, you’ll have to serve a waiting period before claiming on certain services. If you’re lowering your excess, a waiting period will apply before you can claim at your new excess rate. You can still claim for services previously covered, however you would need to pay the previous higher excess during that waiting period.

Switching from another health fund to HCF is easy and can be done any time. It’s important to be mindful of any waiting periods that may apply before switching, and any remaining limits on your extras services before you make the switch - as extras limits reset each calendar year.

When you join HCF, you’ll have a 30-day cooling off period because we want you to be happy with the health cover policy you’ve chosen. So, if you change your mind and cancel your HCF policy within 30 days of joining, you’ll receive your money back if you haven't made a claim in that period.

Find cover that’s right for you

Important Information

* 89.2% compared to 85.6% across the industry. Calculated based on the average of the past 10 years, sourced from APRA Statistics: Private Health Insurance Operations Reports 2014–23.

^ Eligibility criteria applies. You can access HCF Thank You offers after you’ve been a member for a week, and if your premiums are up to date. Excludes Ambulance Only and Overseas Visitors Health Cover. Offers and partners are subject to change without advance notice. See HCF Thank You terms and conditions.

+ 100% back through our No-Gap network is available on selected covers. Waiting periods and annual limits apply. Our network of healthcare providers change often. Please check that your provider is part of our network before you book or attend an appointment. See hcf.com.au/100back

# Eligibility criteria applies. For more information see hcf.com.au/health-insurance/health-programs

** Available if you change your mind and cancel your HCF policy within 30 days of joining, and haven't made a claim in that period.

^^ Our Life and Recover Cover products are issued by our own HCF Life insurance Company Pty Ltd. ABN 37 001 831 250. AFSL 236 806 (HCF Life). HCF Life is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hospitals Contribution Fund of Australia Limited ABN 68 000 026 746, AFSL 241414 (HCF). Terms and conditions apply. Please read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement, Policy Document and Financial Services Guide available by calling 1800 560 855 or visiting hcf.com.au/lifeinfo, and consider your financial situation, objectives, and needs before deciding on these products as any advice provided does not take these into account. In addition to these documents, you should also read the Target Market Determination (TMD) for the product, which is available at hcf.com.au/lifeinfo. The premiums for Recover Cover products are paid to HCF Life. HCF receives commission from HCF Life for their sale of up to 40% of the first year’s premium plus an additional commission of 80% of HCF Life’s underwriting profit each year calculated as premiums less claims and expenses. HCF’s staff may receive an incentive depending on the annual premium of these products which they sell. This will not exceed 15% of the first year’s premium.