HBF

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About HBF

What is HBF?

HBF Insurance is a private health insurer that operates as an open health fund. 

Background

HBF was established in Western Australia (WA) in 1941 and was originally called the Metropolitan Hospital Benefit Fund. Its objective was to help Western Australians pay the cost of hospital treatment. 

When it extended its cover to all hospitals in WA in 1945, the fund changed its name to Hospital Benefits Fund. In 2000, it became HBF. 

In 2021, HBF purchased for-profit insurer CUA Health (now see-u), so it could develop a solid base in Queensland and expand across Australia.

With over a million members nationally, HBF is the fourth-largest health fund and the second-largest not-for-profit insurer in Australia. 

Who can join HBF?

Anyone can join HBF because it is an open insurer.

What products does HBF offer?

HBF offers:

• Hospital Cover
• Extras Cover
• Ambulance Only Cover
• Overseas Visitors Health Cover (OVHC).

Do HBF policies include Ambulance Cover?

HBF includes emergency Ambulance Cover with:

• Hospital Cover
• Extras Cover
• Combined Hospital and Extras Cover. 

This covers only urgent ambulance transport by road not by sea or air.

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Is HBF a not-for-profit health insurer?

Yes. HBF is a not-for-profit health insurer.

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Does HBF operate in all Australian states and territories?

Yes. HBF operates in all Australian states and territories.

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How does HBF Hospital Cover compare with other insurers?

Benchmarks	HBF	Industry average
Member retention for Hospital Cover	92.3%	88.6%
% hospital-related charges covered	94.4%	90.6%

Source: Private Health Insurance Ombudsman: State of the Health Funds Report: 2022

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Does HBF have agreements with some private hospitals or day hospitals to provide services at low cost or with no out-of-pocket costs?

Yes. HBF has agreements with a few private hospitals that allow it to provide services to its members at low cost or with no out-of-pocket costs:

Location	Number of private Agreement Hospitals	Industry maximum
ACT	5	6
NSW	97	98
NT	2	2
QLD	51	60
SA	20	23
TAS	5	9
VIC	74	76
WA	21	24

HBF also has agreements with a number of day hospitals so it can provide services at low cost or with no out-of-pocket costs:

Location	Number of day Agreement Hospitals	Industry maximum
ACT	8	9
NSW	87	103
NT	1	2
QLD	48	57
SA	25	30
TAS	6	8
VIC	67	79
WA	19	24

Source: HBF: performance

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How does HBF Extras Cover compare with other insurers?

Benchmark	HBF	Industry average
% Extras Cover charges covered	56.3%	52.0%

Source: Private Health Insurance Ombudsman: State of the Health Funds Report: 2022

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How does HBF compare with other private health insurers?

Benchmarks	HBF	Industry average
Market share	7.3%	–
% services with no gap	92.8%	88.8%
% services with no gap or where known gap payment made	99.8%	97.4%
Market share of complaints to the PHIO	5.9%	–
% complaints investigated by the PHIO	4.9%	–
Benefits as a % of contributions	88.1%	83.1%
Management expenses as a % of contribution income	14.7%	9.9%
Management expenses per average policy	$495	$375

Source: Private Health Insurance Ombudsman: State of the Health Funds Report: 2022

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Is HBF a member of any industry associations?

Yes. HBF is a member of Private Healthcare Australia (PHA), a body that represents 20 registered health insurers and 97% of people covered by private health insurance.

It is also a member of the Members Health Fund Alliance, an alliance of not-for-profit, member-owned, regional or community-based health insurers.

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Does HBF let me claim online or via an app?

Yes. HBF allows you to make a claim via its online portal, myHBF, and via its mobile app. 

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How to contact HBF

Phone:

133 423

Website:

https://www.hbf.com.au 

Email:

via online form

Address Head Office:

570 Wellington Street
Perth WA 6000

Postal address:

GPO Box C101
Perth WA 6839

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