HCF is Australia's largest not-for-profit health fund, meaning any money it makes goes back to its members. It offers different levels of overseas visitor health insurance (OVHC) so you can choose to pay as little as possible and simply meet visa requirements or opt for a more comprehensive policy.
Pros
With a range of policies, it's good if you want either the bare minimum to meet your visa requirements or peace of mind with something more comprehensive.
You're going with a trusted fund — HCF is the third-largest health insurer by market share in Australia and the biggest not-for-profit health fund.
Con
There are cheaper policies available. Cover starts from around $74.50 per month — that's $10 less than Frank Basic Workers Cover. But you won't need to pay an excess if you go to hospital.
Basic. HCF Overseas Visitor Basic policy covers you for emergency ambulance rehabilitation and palliative care, emergency department facility fees, medical repatriation and funeral expenses, and all services where a benefit would be payable under Medicare, the Australian public healthcare system.
Mid. This provides similar services to a Basic policy but higher limits on some services. For example, you'll get up to $100,000 for medical repatriation, compared to $50,000 with a Basic policy.
Top. Comprehensive cover for overseas visitors. As well as hospital care, you'll get cover for extras services including dental, optical, therapies such as physio and natural therapies like acupuncture.
Top Plus. The most comprehensive cover HCF offers for visitors, you'll get all the benefits included in previous policies, plus up to $110,000 for medical repatriation and $20,000 for return of mortal remains or funeral expenses.
Holiday and working holiday cover
Short stay. Short Stay is HCF's most affordable policy. It's designed for healthy singles and couples and covers you for everything that Medicare covers (except pre-existing conditions). This includes doctors' fees, some prescriptions and emergency ambulance services.
Essentials. Essentials includes all Medicare-covered treatments, heart surgery, hip and knee replacement and more. Cover also included doctors' fees, PBS medicines, and emergency ambulance transport.
Essentials Plus. Essentials Plus covers doctors' fees both in and out of hospital. You'll also get cover for accommodation, medicines during and after your hospital stay, emergency ambulance transport and a range of other hospital services, including cataracts.
Ambulance coverage
All HCF OVHC policies cover emergency ambulance transportation. This includes on-the-spot treatment and inter-hospital transfers when the original hospital doesn't have the required clinical facilities.
HCF health insurance complaints
We looked at the 2023 ombudsman health insurance complaints. Here's how HCF stacked up:
Proportionally, HCF had a high percentage complaints compared to the other big health funds.
HCF ranked 4th worst for number of complaints compared to market share of funds with more than 0.5% market share.
HCF member retention
This chart shows the member retention for each health fund with a market share of at least 0.5%, according to the Commonwealth Ombudsman. A higher member retention percentage may suggest customers are happy with the service they're receiving; a lower percentage could mean customers aren't happy with the fund's service. HCF had the highest member retention (88%) followed by HBF (86%).
HCF OVHC frequently asked questions
Pet Insurance. HCF Pet Insurance, issued by The Hollard Insurance Company, is available at a 15% discount for HCF members.
100% back on extras. HCF gives you up to 100% back on a range of extras treatments for eyes, teeth, muscles, backs, feet and hearing aids.
Dental and eyecare centres. HCF operates a network of dental and eyecare centres across metropolitan Sydney.
Healthy Weight for Life program. This 18-week program helps you reach your weight goals and maintain that healthy weight.
There are certain situations when your HCF Overseas Visitors Health Cover policy will not provide protection. These include:
Ambulance transport by a provider not recognised by HCF
Ambulance transported where you are covered under another scheme, for example a state ambulance subscription service
Your claim is for a treatment specifically excluded from your policy
Your claim is for treatment received while you are serving a waiting period
You can recover the costs from a third party other than HCF, for example from workers' compensation insurance
It is for experimental treatments or treatment not deemed suitable by HCF
It is for goods or services that are delivered outside Australia, or for treatment that is not delivered face-to-face
It's also worth pointing out that this policy is not available for visitors who hold a:
Student visa
Tourist visa
Retiree visa not listed above
Finally, keep in mind that waiting periods will apply for certain treatments and procedures. For example, a 12-month waiting period before you can receive cover for the treatment of pre-existing conditions or pregnancy and birth-related services.
A 12-month waiting period applies to pre-existing conditions. Otherwise, there's no waiting period for services covered by Medicare. There's a 2-month waiting period for rehab, palliative care and psychiatric services.
You can apply for HCF Overseas Visitors Health Cover online, via email, by phoning HCF or by visiting a HCF branch.
You can choose a $0 or $250 excess – the higher the excess you choose, the lower your premiums will be.
You can apply for HCF Overseas Visitors Health Cover online, via email, by phoning HCF or by visiting a HCF branch.
Agreements are in place with Belgium, Finland, Italy, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, the Netherlands, the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. Visit the Department of Human Services online for more information about these agreements.
Gary Ross Hunter was an editor at Finder, specialising in insurance. He’s been writing about life, travel, home, car, pet and health insurance for over 6 years and regularly appears as an insurance expert in publications including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and news.com.au. Gary holds a Kaplan Tier 2 General Advice General Insurance certification which meets the requirements of ASIC Regulatory Guide 146 (RG146). See full bio
Gary Ross's expertise
Gary Ross has written 648 Finder guides across topics including:
The 190 Visa gives you permanent residency and can lead to citizenship. Read our easy, step-by-step guide on how to apply and what health cover you will need to have in place.
If your parents are planning to visit you in Australia from another country, they will first need an appropriate visa, and secondly need health insurance while they are here. This guide explains how to do both.
If you’re an international student travelling to Australia on a student visa, you’ll need to take out Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
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